Planning granted for pontoon on Clew Bay island

Anton McNulty

AN Bord PleanΡla have granted planning permission for the installation of a private pontoon on a Clew Bay island despite objections from a local farmer and land owner.
Planning permission to construct the floating pontoon and landing stage on the uninhabited island of Inishgowla South in Clew Bay had been granted to Noel Devery by Mayo County Council earlier this summer.
Mr Devery owns a cottage on the island and wished to build the pontoon on health and safety grounds and for greater access to the island.
The objection was lodged by Liam Ryder of Carrowholly, who owns land on the island where his cattle and sheep graze. He stated that he uses a craft to ferry his livestock to and from the mainland and that this presented a difficulty in restricted waters, such as the landing area on the island.
He felt the construction of the pontoon would ‘greatly reduce the space for which to safely manoeuvre attending craft’. While acknowledging the desire to make landing on the island safer for occupiers of the house, Mr Ryder felt this should not come at a cost to him and his family.
In response, Mr Devery stated he requires safe access to his house. He felt it was unreasonable to expect residents to continue to use small, ‘unstable and potentially dangerous craft’. Suitable craft needed suitable landing facilities, he said.
The proposed pontoon is to be 28 metres in length.

Health and safety
The Bord PleanΡla inspector, Lorraine Dockery, stated that at present, access to the island is difficult and restricted at low tide.
“Issues of health and safety have been raised in the documentation, and I would concur with the submissions made that such a development would greatly improve the lives of those using it,” she wrote, adding that she considered such a development should be welcomed for off-shore islands.
While noting Mr Ryder’s reasons for his objections, she said that the pontoon would improve access for both parties and felt that rather than impede access to the island for him, it would improve his access.
Ms Dockery also took into consideration whether the pontoon would impact the population of common seals which use the island as a moulting site. She found that the development would have no significant impact on the seals.
She ruled that the development would be consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and recommended granting permission.
The board accepted Ms Dockery’s recommendations granting planning permission with two conditions, one of which was that Mr Devery obtain the necessary permits prior to the commencement of any works on the foreshore.