Rural lobby group condemns NRA threat to Clare councillors
A lobby group campaigning in support of one-off rural housing has condemned the National Roads Authority's threat to halt its roads programme in Co Clare.
The NRA had warned local councillors that it would reassess its €64m programme for Clare if they pressed ahead with plans to allow one-off houses along the routes of national roads.
It said allowing such developments was in breach of national policy, which opposes one-off houses on main roads due to the increased risk of traffic accidents.
However, councillors in Clare ignored the threat and voted last night to ease the restrictions on building houses alongside primary and regional roads.
Speaking about the matter this morning, the Irish Rural Link lobby group claimed the NRA's threat was an attack on local democracy.
Spokesman Seamus Boland said: "Local planning should belong to the local planning agency and its elected representatives.
"Agencies using their considerable muscle, which the NRA have, in order to threaten and get their way - that is not the way we do things in a democracy."
