GALWAY County Council exceeded its powers in allowing a controversial development in Barna to proceed, according to the chairwoman of An Taisce's Galway branch, Prof Emer Colleran.
She said she was concerned at apparent contradictions in a recent decision by the council to allow work on a large clubhouse at Barna Golf and Country Club to continue, despite claims that it breached a number of Bord Pleanala conditions.
"As far as I know of the development, it is not proceeding in line with the Bord Pleanala decision," she said. "The logical thing to do would be to ask the board, under Section S of the Planning Act, to rule as to whether it is in line with its conditions or whether it requires a further application."
The council ordered building work on the clubhouse to stop in January because of concerns that conditions laid down by An Bord Pleanala were not being complied with. Earlier this month it gave the golf club permission to proceed, following submissions from the developers which included a number of drawings.
Planning permission for the building stipulates that its overall height "shall not exceed two storeys and shall be kept to the minimum necessary". But as it stands the building reaches three storeys above ground. The first storey is windowless and has been surrounded by a large earthen mound, but it is clearly visible from the side road which bisects the off course.
The development is in a scenic area between Moycullen and Barna which is already the focus of controversy because of plans to rezone it. The skeleton of the new clubhouse dominates views of Loch Inse and surrounding bogland from the Moycullen Barna road.
A council spokesman declined to comment on the controversy this weekend. But an examination of the planning file reveals it no longer considers the development to be in breach of its conditions.
Responding to a submission from the golf club's director and main developer, Mr Pat Donnellan, the council said in its reply it was "satisfied that the said drawings reflect that for which planning permission was granted".
But the letter then goes on to apparently contradict itself with the following was: "It should be noted that any further deviation from the existing permission will not be acceptable".
Another letter, to a local resident who objected to the planning application, says the developer has promised "to rectify the unauthorised nature of the various works carried out. Accordingly, the developer is being allowed to proceed, but only on the strict parameters - that the development conforms with the permission granted."
Mr Donnellan, a former county footballer declined to discuss the controversy with The Irish Times. In a brief telephone conversation on Friday morning, however, he said he was building a two storey building, in line with planning conditions.
Asked to explain the three storeys visible from the road, and the earthen mound, Mr Donnellan said: "I don't agree with you at all. Thanks very much, bye bye" and hung up.