Local angling groups voice concerns on Baysports planning bid
Local angling groups have raised a series of concerns about a recent planning application by Baysports in Hodson Bay, which they claim will take away access to the public amenity.
In submissions seen by the Westmeath Independent, Lough Ree Catchment Angling Foundation, Coosan and District Anglers, along with individuals Jim Connaughton and Flan Barnwell, highlighted issues about access to the beach area, the “realignment of fences” along with fears about the potential effects on water ecology and the visual effects of the facility.
On February 9 last, Athlone Baysports Ltd applied for planning permission for what's described in the application as including an “expansion of existing waterpark facilities”, saying all of the structures proposed are temporary, mostly consisting of marquees and inflatable floating objects.
The marquees, 17 in all, will be laid over existing ground and require no foundations or disturbance of the ground, the application detailed, adding that planning was previously granted back in 2013 for an inflatable waterpark, and this new application is intended to replace this previous application.
The marquees are earmarked for use as a reception and wet suit distribution, safety briefing, changing marquees, a customer observation area marquee, a dining area and a gift shop, cafe, along with prefabricated offices, outdoor showers and a realignment of existing fencing.
The second part of the application consists of the waterside installations covering slides, booms, platforms and climbing walls, all of which are PVC structures permanently fixed to the lake bed using ropes and anchors.
The development would also include the connection of the cafe and outdoor showers to the existing public foul sewer.
“It seems incredulous to us that a local authority would agree to lease land that is a public amenity area and grant permission to a private individual to apply to privatise it and fence it off from public access,” Lough Ree Catchment Angling Federation said in a detailed submission seen by this paper. “This area includes the only publicly accessible beach area on the South Roscommon shoreline and possibly the whole western shore line of Lough Ree,” it added.
The federation also complained that the Natura Impact statement “neglects to include the impact of this proposed development on Lough Ree's fish life and fly life” which they described as “alarming” considering it is an on-lake project.
“While Hodson Bay has a large area zoned for tourism/leisure facilities in the County Development Plan, this facility is situated in the more environmentally sensitive green belt area and now wants to expand further into the green belt area without justifying why,” the group has claimed, before saying though “structured as a new application it appears to mask a 'retention' application for structures already in place”.
Coosan and District Anglers argued the proposed location is noted as probably being the first area for the mayfly to hatch in abundance on Lough Ree.
“In an era when nature is coming under increased pressure and mayfly hatches are diminishing on Lough Ree, it appears that no study has been done on the potential effect on the water ecology in this area from the extra mud/silt disturbance from a proposed 80,000 footfall,” the submission stated, adding that it is unhappy that even when the floats are removed the ropes are left in the water posing a danger.
“The proposed footprint/visual effect on what is a beautiful natural lakeshore enjoyed by many visitors is very large with the area increased 2.5 times from the original application in 2013. From the lake itself the visual effects will be quite frankly awful,” the group further claimed.
Meanwhile, Jim Connaughton said he found many aspects of the plans are “obscure”, pointing out that since the original application added development has taken place. “The new planning application seems to encompass this plus extra without differentiation,” he said in his submission. He's unhappy too that the “new perimeter as proposed” would restrict the public and he wants to know what realignment of fences actually means.
The entire lakeshore at Hodson Bay is part of the public realm and provides a major recreational attraction for tourists and in particular, local people, according to Flan Barnwell, who acknowledged in a lengthy submission that Baysports is a major and unique tourist attraction.
At the same time, however, he claimed it is important that Roscommon County Council is “fully aware of the extent to which this particular planning application seeks to take away the public amenity area into private commercial use,” something he said were it to happen would be an “absolute scandal”.
“The scale of this development is such that public access to a significant part of the shoreline and lake as we know it will be wiped out if this plan goes ahead.”
He is also unhappy with the erection of a tall fence on the southern side of the peninsula leading out to the round tower known as Hodson’s Pillar.
In a letter “supporting Baysports and their activities" in Hodson Bay, Waterways Ireland described it as an “innovative business” that provides an “economic and social dividend to the local and regional economies” by providing employment, directly through its operation and indirectly, through supporting services.
On a strategic level and from a tourism perspective, the State agency said their activities support the aim of the Shannon Masterplan to “harness the full potential of the Shannon” river.
A landscape and visual impact assessment concluded that the visual impact of the centre will be “seasonal” and the character of the environment in the form of the shoreline, will not change.
Roscommon County Council will announce a decision by April 5 next.