Developers and action group renew war of words on marina
THE row between the developers of Derg Marina at Ballina and Ballina Marina Action Group, which is opposing the proposal, continues this week with the action group accusing developers Eclipse Developments of "issuing misleading and contradictory statements surrounding its planning application to develop the marina site."
"Initially, the developers dismissed the local community's concerns as the work of a few.
"Now that over 160 planning objections have been received they have belittled the community's objections and the planning process by claiming that many of the objections had been issued on a template," said group spokesman Joe Cahalane.
"It does not matter if one planning objection or 10 or 100 objections are received citing similar grounds.
"The simple fact of the matter is that the majority of objections claim that the scale and density of the development is disproportionate to the heritage towns of Ballina and Killaloe and puts an unacceptable additional burden on the infrastructure," he said.
In response, the developers said that they had always respected the views of local residents and claimed to have "worked to address their concerns from the outset".
"BMAG are misinformed on a number of counts, which we have attempted to rectify by meeting the group, which they repeatedly refused," said a spokesperson for the developers.
But Mr Cahalne said that the developers had failed to have any meaningful consultation with the local community
"If the developers had actually consulted with the local community, why would they have needed to claim that they will now address the concerns in the submissions, having already filed the planning application?" he asked
"The stark facts are that the developers failed utterly to engage in any meaningful consultation with the local community, and this is reflected in the planning objections.
"The developers also went to great trouble to announce very publicly through the media that they would put a model on public display for the local community. They didn't." They failed to honour this very public commitment," Mr Cahalane said.
He said that the action group had never refused to meet the developers.
"On the contrary, we agreed to meet with them but, in order to facilitate an efficient and constructive meeting, we asked for a copy of the marina plans beforehand.
"Our repeated requests for these plans have been continually ignored," he said.
The spokesperson for the developers contradicted the group's claims, saying; "There was a complete scale model of the development put on display in the local community, which almost 200 people came to view in November 2006.
"There was also a 3D video presentation shown on TVs in the venue in addition to a series of A1 drawings of what the development will look like.
"The architects, developers and engineers were available to talk to people and answer queries.
"This consultation was advertised on local radio in the week leading up to the event and was an entirely open and transparent process."
The spokesperson for the developers said that their plan was to turn what was a private marina into a public facility.
"The proposed marina development includes a boardwalk with 236 berths, boat repair and chandlery shop, pump-out station and fuel services, public walkways, a new base for the Shannon Coast Guard search and rescue, 260 car parking spaces,commercial units for restaurants and shops, and an educational facility in addition to the residential aspect of the scheme," the spokesperson said.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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