Dissent over Cliffs visitor centre

Major differences have emerged between the two promoters of visitor facilities at the Cliffs of Moher. Clare County Council intends to lodge a planning application for a £10 million visitor centre at the cliffs next February to replace the existing one, considered by both the council and Shannon Development to be inadequate for the estimated 750,000 visitors.

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is to be lodged with the application. However, Shannon Development, which operates the existing centre, has expressed disappointment at the council's move.

This follows the council's stated intention to press ahead with award-winning plans originally presented in 1992. The chief executive of the Shannon Heritage wing of Shannon Development, Mr John King, said yesterday a fresh look needed to be taken. He says the visitor centre proposed by the council is based on the results of a 1989 Brady Shipman Martin report. "A lot has changed since then in terms of what the visitor expects and the mindset in relation to environmental issues."

At the time of the initial proposal, the cliffs attracted 250,000 visitors a year, said Mr King, but this figure had grown greatly in the last five years.

He said: "Our view is that we must take a four-cornered approach where local residents and businesses, visitors, environmental groups and the promoters undertake a review of the fundamental issues and it is only when this is complete that you can go ahead with drawing up plans." To enable that to occur, Shannon Development has appointed tourism and planning consultants to look at the issue.

Responding to Mr King, Mr Gerard Dollard, finance officer with the council, said: "The council is fully aware of the sensitivities associated with the Cliffs of Moher, so the EIS is being carried out to ensure all environmental issues are considered."

Shannon Development expects its report will be complete by April. At that stage, a decision may be made on the council's application.