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Section 1: SERVICE TOWNS
facilities. As with all coastal tourist towns and villages, there is an influx in population during the main holiday periods. It is therefore important to ensure that future development is balanced and contributes to a thriving community which can support a range of services that are viable year-round, whilst retaining its distinctive coastal character.
Both Ennistymon and Lahinch are served with water from the Ennistymon Regional Water Supply (RWS) and the Ballymacraven Water Treatment Plant (WTP), with adequate capacity to cater for the target population.
Both are served by public wastewater infrastructure, the Ennistymon Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Lahinch Wastewater Treatment Plant. With upgrades to both plants due to be completed within lifetime of this plan, both have sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the target population over the plan period.
The objective for Ennistymon/Lahinch, as a Linked Service Town, is to promote the development of the towns, as a driver of social and economic growth for the hinterlands. Clare County Council will support development that will strengthen the role and function of service towns as residential, economic, commercial, tourism, educational and amenity centres.
Both Ennistymon and Lahinch are located adjacent to the Inagh River Estuary which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Future development must ensure that there are no adverse effects on the integrity of any European site as a result of proposed development. Both Ennistymon and Lahinch are also located adjacent to a Proposed Natural Heritage Area. Accordingly, objectives in Volume 1 of this Plan relating to European sites and to appropriate assessments will apply to any future development proposals in this area.
General Objectives – Ennistymon/Lahinch Service Town
• To support the delivery of a new river crossing for Ennistymon and the subsequent traffic management and public realm improvements required to the existing town infrastructure.
• To facilitate the consolidation and regeneration of Ennistymon/Lahinch to ensure a strong and vibrant community that will allow for its future sustainable growth as the service town in North Clare.
• To actively pursue the reuse and regeneration of ‘Blakes and Linnanes’ subject to the new bridge crossing being delivered.
• To provide for comprehensive traffic management in Ennistymon/Lahinch that will contribute to an improved quality of environment and increased development potential.
