Plans by Clare County Council to give protected status to a 19th-century pier on the Shannon estuary were defeated after the council's Fianna Fáil group voted against the move.
In voting against Cahercon Pier's inclusion in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) at the council's January meeting, the 15-strong group and Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) ignored the recommendations of Minister for the Environment Dick Roche and county manager Alec Fleming to include the pier in the RPS.
The move to include the pier in the record split the community in Kildysart, on the Shannon estuary. In all, the council received 145 submissions on the issue, with 71 in favour of its inclusion and 65 urging that it not be protected.
The pier is seen as a vital piece of infrastructure in plans for a €6 million explosives factory at Cahercon. Plans for the factory are expected to be relodged shortly with the council by Whelan Group subsidiary Shannon Explosives.
Some time ago, a separate Whelan Group company, CW Shipping Ltd, was successful in a High Court judicial review in having the pier delisted from the development plan as the council did not follow the proper procedures.
The pier is owned by the council, but leased to the shipping company.
In response, the council moved to relist Cahercon Pier, and in a report to councillors Mr Fleming recommended its inclusion, stating that it met five of the eight significant interests that needed to be evidenced.
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