The Diocese of Killaloe has been dealt a financial blow, because of a protected species of bat.
Plans to rezone part of a Diocese-owned 68-acre site in the Ashline, Beechpark area of Ennis have been rejected in part of the new Draft Clare County Development Plan
The 68 acre site in the Ashline/Beechpark area contains a number of zonings including residential, community, recreation and buffer space.
The Killaloe diocese had hoped to rezone a buffer zone in an effort to boost the value of the land but this has been rejected by the acting CEO of Clare County Council in the new draft Clare County Development plan.
The diocesan trust argued that "the large parcel of land adjacent to the N85 Beechpark roundabout with the proposed ‘buffer zone’ is excessive" and requested that it is scaled down".
The Diocese has been approached by developers looking to acquire some of the proposed residential-zoned land.
But, in the end, the request was rejected due to the presence of the protect lesser horseshoe bat in the area
