At todays meeting of the Clare County Council a motion to allow a material contravention of the Co. Clare Development Plan was defeated. In spite of the vote having been deferred for a period of ten months the supporters of the Mullaghmore project were unable to obtain the required three quarters majority for the material contravention.
The Burren Action Group wholeheartedly welcomes todays vote (Monday) decision of the Clare County Council members to reject the Minister for Arts, Gaeltacht and the Islands plans for a visitor centre in the Burren.
For almost 8 years the Burren Action Group has consistently argued for the provision of much-needed visitor facilities is socially and environmentally sustainable locations e.g. in villages such as Corofin and Kilfenora. This approach maximises economic benefits whilst respecting the globally unique landscape which visitors wish to experience. It attempts to balance the interests of visitors, host communities and the host environment.
Todays vote vote makes this goal a real possibility and the Burren Action Group looks forward to developing a genuine partnership approach along with the Clare County Council, the Department of Arts, Gaeltacht and the Islands and all interested parties to this long running controversy.
We appeal to Minister de Valera to respect the decision by Clare County Council and lay her devisive plans for the Mullaghmore development to rest.