Council withdraws Baltimore breakwater plan

BY JACKIE KEOGH

CORK County Council has withdrawn its planning application to build a breakwater in Baltimore.

Cllr Joe Carroll (FF) said the issue was raised at a coastal management meeting recently and the application was withdrawn because An Bord Pleanala has requested a Natura Impact Statement.

‘We thought the decision to withdraw the application, complete the statement, and resubmit the planning application to An Bord Pleanala would only take two or three weeks, but we have now been informed that it will take two or three months,’ said the Skibbereen-based councillor.

‘That will push the project back to after Christmas, which is very disappointing for everyone involved.’

Baltimore shopkeeper, Kieran Cotter, said he wasn’t unduly worried about the delay: ‘The Council needs to get all the documentation correctly submitted to make sure that the planning has every chance of being successful.’

The breakwater is likely to have a significant impact on the commercial life of the village, as well as making it a much safer harbour in which to shelter during stormy weather.