Ballaghafadda Amenity & Recreation Plan

This is a notice of the preparation of a non-statutory plan for Council owned lands at Ballaghafadda West, Killadysart Road, Clarecastle, Co. Clare. The Rural Development Directorate, Clare County Council, in conjunction with the Paul Hogarth Company ltd, O’ Connor Sutton Cronin Engineers, John Ruddle Consulting, Ruth Minogue Environmental and Risteard UaCróinín, Archaeologist and Architectural Heritage Advisor have formulated a strategic plan for the site following extensive surveying, research and design development.

The requirement for a plan on this site is identified in the County Development Plan 2017-2023. This draft plan was informed by earlier consultations in July 2021 via an online survey involving residents, the Public Participation Network, Tourism Groups, the Age Friendly Network, local community groups and landowners.

The Draft Ballaghafadda Amenity and Recreation Plan sets out a vision to enhance the site’s natural beauty, enrich its ecological value and to encourage engagement with the landscape, lough and its surroundings. A network of pathways and boardwalks will be carefully set within a naturalised woodland, meadow and wetland landscape. Interpretation of the site’s natural and cultural heritage will be provided through signage and public art. Activities on the site may include walking, cycling, wildlife watching, natural play, and low impact water sports, such as swimming, rowing and kayaking with supporting onsite facilities for outdoor recreation, community and tourism requirements as appropriate to the site and objectives of the County Development Plan. There is also future potential opportunity to enhance and consider the creation of new linkages from Clarecastle village, Ballybeg Woods and Killone Lough to this site.

The preparation of the Ballaghafadda Amenity & Recreation Plan ensures that there is a template for strategic decision making in relation to future development of the site to support the local community, economic growth, tourism, heritage awareness, amenity and recreation in the area. It should be noted that the objective of this draft plan is to provide a strategic vision and the development of many of the key objectives therein would require further detailed design, assessment, and public consultation through a statutory planning process. Although there is no immediate project funding allocated, it is intended that this document will guide the evolution of the site at community-based level and act as supporting documentation to any potential future grant applications.

The Draft Ballaghafadda Amenity & Recreation Plan aims to set out a strategy vision for the sustainable evolution and development of the site over time which may form part of the wider future amenity offering for County Clare and the Ennis Municipal District subject to planning and development requirements and funding availability.

Please view the draft Ballaghafadda Amenity & Recreation Plan and then proceed to complete our online survey.

Public Consultation /Submission/Observations

If you have any thoughts, ideas or opinions on any aspect of the proposed vision for the Draft Ballaghfadda Amenity & Recreation Plan, we would like to hear from you.

Any individual or interested parties can make a submission or observation on the Draft Plan below (Online Survey)

Submissions or observations can be made during the public consultation period which will run from Tuesday 15th March 2022 until 5:00 p.m, Tuesday 12th of April 2022.

(Please note that submissions or observations received are subject to meeting requirements under relevant data protection legislation. All submissions/observations will be subject to Freedom of Information legislation).

All observations or submissions received during the above time period will be taken into consideration before launching the final Ballaghafadda Amenity & Recreation Plan .