by Louise Doyle
PLANS for an extension to an existing caravan park in Portnablagh have been refused by Donegal County Council over flooding concerns.
Applicant Shaun Moffitt lodged plans in June to provide 22 additional caravan pitches and open space kick-about area in Johnston’s Caravan Park, Marblehill and Clonmass, Portnablagh.
Plans comprised removal of two caravan pitches to accommodate new access road through the existing caravan park, including pedestrian footpath to connect to existing play area.
The proposed development also included all associated site works to include on-site wastewater treatment system, wastewater pump and raised tertiary infiltration area, proposed extension of existing water supply network and storm water network with bypass separator trap prior to discharge to existing water course.
The proposed development elicited an objection from a nearby caravan owner on the grounds of the environmental impact.
In a written submission to Donegal County Council, he wrote: “The environmental impact of the proposed of the proposed addition of 22 caravan spaces, the associated road structure and the site works will be damaging to the local wildlife.
“The small field to be developed, whilst farmland is not intensively farmed and the extent of the activity on the present land consists of two cuts of silage per year.
“Due to minimal farming activity and around 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the current field being uncut and left in natural grassland and reeds there is an opportunity for animals such as wild hare to inhabit the space.
“In addition to hare population, I have observed ground nesting birds including a corncrake in 2019 inhabiting the margins of the field. Wild deer have also been seen to graze there in recent years, as well as frequently spotted wild ducks inhabiting the small river, with bats seen regularly at night.”
INSURANCE
The objector also cited concerns that the proposed development land has also been subject to coastal flooding.
“Should coastal flooding happen again, I would have concerns it will impact not only caravan owners in the proposed development area but also the owners in the rest of the Johnston’s Caravan Park, the adjacent Birchwood Park and the smaller Angio site. The likelihood being, in the event of future flooding, all caravans in the three sites could become uninsurable with insurance agents unlikely to differentiate between the new development area and existing sites.”
Refusing permission for the proposed development, Donegal County Council said it is a policy to “only permit a development where flood or surface water management issues can be successfully address”.
“The Planning Authority considers that the proposed development is at significant risk from flooding.”
The refusals also states concerns for wildlife: “The Planning Authority considers that the proposed development would place protected habitats and species at risk within the adjoining Special Area of Conservation (SAC) as a result of potential water-borne sediment and/or pollutants entering the SAC via flood waters, and due to the removal of wetland/wet grass habitat that is contiguous with the SAC wetlands and shares a hydrological regime and may contain supporting habitats for the SAC.”
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