Refusal by An Bord Pleanala to Wheel Inn Development

Wheel Inn Development - Refused by An Bórd Pleanála
Other Related Stories Handover of Petition Results Last day to sign petition of support Press Release by Developer John Burke, Wheel Inn Development Update Wheel Inn Holiday Home Development & Objections		*An Bord Pleanala's Refusal*
To say that the people in Beara were shocked at the decision by An Bord Pleanala to refuse the re-development at the Wheel Inn Site - just 3.5 miles to the east of Castletownbere - would be putting it mildly - it was like receiving a death sentence - handed down by a handful of people - who have no regard for communities or their hopes and dreams of a better and vibrant economy. The Beara People spoke in their thousands last March by signing a petition - saying how such a development could and would help develop our isolated community. It would provide much needed employment in the area plus the families saying goodbye to their children who take off when they finish school to seek work, would be lessened. However, "the powers that be'' are making sure that we stay isolated and remain in olden times. They are certainly not looking at the development as being a re-juvenation of a previous development on that very same site - a very vibrant holiday centre with function facilities, operating in the 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's. The Beara Peninsula must compete with areas like Killarney, The West of Ireland and Dublin for tourists and developers. What kind of signal is this decision sending out to future developers in the area? How An Bord Pleanala can dream up such a reason to refuse this re-development from progressing is beyond comprehension. Two Dublin Families initiated the appeal - the MacGiollarnaiths and The Jordans - people who have holiday homes adjacent to the site and who only visit the area a few times in the year. These are the people being listened to by An Bord Pleanala and not the people living and trying to survive in Beara. Why? Why does such a governing body have so much power? An Taisce did not object to the scaled down development second time around - but still An Bord Pleanala refused. How can An Bord Pleanala be swayed by the influence of so few, when Cork County Council have granted permission twice and the people of the peninsula came out in their thousands to support this development - with vision to progress and open the way for future development? Are there any winners in this situation...? Certainly not the Developer - who has ploughed huge amounts of money into Planning Applications, Reports, etc., etc. never mind the actual cost of the site - which was sold as a development site. Certainly not the people of Beara who have been deprived from progressing and enjoying facilities not otherwise available here in the peninsula - it is a regression in fact - by 10 years at least. Potential jobs are lost forever which would have been a huge boost to the economy. (Farming and Fishing are on the decline - Tourism is the only outlet we have left). Will any developer want to invest in Beara in the future? Certainly not the youth of Beara - who are exported in their droves each year - seeking employment Certainly not the tourists to the area who would have more facilities for them in our sometimes inclement weather. Why does the voice of a handfull of people outweigh the voice of thousands who live in Beara - who supported this development and the Planners at Cork County Council?????? ......................................................................