*The site of the proposed car park.
PLANS to construct a new car park in Bodyke are to be lodged by Clare County Council.
On Wednesday morning, elected members of the Killaloe Municipal District approved a Part VIII application which will see the local authority file plans to construct a public car park on a green field site in the centre of Bodyke. It is the first time such an approval has been made by the Killaloe MD.
Part VIII allows for the application of planning permission for projects by local authorities.
Where a project is being progressed by the local authority, planning permission is applied for under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015. The proposed site is currently grassland and does not appear to have been in use in the recent past, according to the local authority.
Senior planner and Killaloe MD coordinator, Brian McCarthy said they have been working in conjunction with the local community on the plans “over the last number of months”. He explained, “A Part VIII application for the Local Authority own development was lodged in January. The performance of their Reserved Function by the Elected Members of Killaloe MD today in relation to the Part VIII Application for the provision of a car-park and bicycle parking in Bodyke village centre, gives effect to the objectives of the Elected Members of Killaloe Municipal District – Strategic Workplan 2024-2029. It is one of the first occasions the Elected Members of an MD exercised their discretionary function under the provisions of the 2014 Local Government Acts and performed their reserved function at MD level for a Part VIII Local Authority development”.
Proposed works include the construction of a new public car park, vehicular and pedestrian access via the R352 with alterations to the existing site entrance, the creation of pedestrian access from the adjacent Bodyke Community Park, the provision of cycle parking and repair station, public lighting and a connection to the existing surface water network in the village via a proposed rain water garden. There will be 15 spaces in the car park which includes disability spaces and an EV charging point is also part of the plans, The Clare Echo understands.
Submissions were made by Uisce Éireann and An Taisce prior to the application. An internal report submitted by the road design office of Clare County Council flagged standards for sightlines and sight-stopping distances were not achieved due to the existing wall boundaries and the absence of documentation to calculate the 35km/h design speed.
Access to the site is via the R352, there is an existing agricultural gate providing access, the remainder of the roadside boundary is delineated by a cut stone wall. The existing community garden adjoins the western boundary of the site while Church of the Assumption in Bodyke and the adjoining graveyard are located to the south and south-west of the site respectively.
In a report to elected members, senior planners in the Council detailed, “the proposed car park will predominantly provide parking for events taking place in the village e.g. services in the adjoining church or at school drop off and collection times. At present, parking in the village is haphazard and the proposal will provide a more formal parking structure. The development will not result in an intense level of vehicular activity and is unlikely to cause disturbance or disamenity to nearby residential properties”.
Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said it was a historic moment for the MD to approve a Part VIII application. “One of the key things we decided when relaunching our strategic plan was to enhance local democracy and to give the Municipal District a chance to play its own roles, this is one of the first times when it is has been enacted when we’ve passed a Part 8 so we’re leading the way”. He said funding applications will be examined to carry out the works in Bodyke.
Proposing the adoption of the application, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) commented, “This will benefit not just the area but combined with bridge and bypass, it is another cog in the wheel of East Clare. We can all take pride in this, it is a positive, it is another cog in the wheel, it will be an asset to the entire East Clare area, it is all part of the general progression, the enhancement and upgrade of what we have to offer in the Killaloe Municipal District and East Clare”.
Jibes were then swiped between Cllr Hayes and Cllr Pat Burke (FG) regarding the ‘raising of hands’ at the virtual meeting. Cllr Burke said when seconding the proposal, “I welcome this initiative in one of our villages in East Clare where we’re crying out for investment”.
His party colleague, Cllr Conor Ryan (FG) stated, “This is a fantastic development, it is great to enhance the local area of Bodyke, it’s fantastic to see all the services inter-connected like Local Link buses and cycling lanes”.
More such projects are required, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) maintained. “It is something we need to see in a lot of villages going forward in the Municipal District, it will knit everything together in Bodyke which is vital and important”.
“It is a bit of history for our Municipal District in passing a Part VIII application, it is a historic day,” Cllr Hayes told the meeting. He referenced work undertaken by the Cobbler Junction in Bodyke which has controlled speeding in the locality, “one of our plans is to roll out a suite of traffic calming measures in our Municipal District. It shows what can be done on regional roads, it will enhance safety measures for everyone using the area”.
