Caher
Caher Location and Context Caher village is located directly on the shores of Lough Graney and it has a tight-knit centre with a small number of houses developed in a linear manner on the road to the east and the west of the centre. There has been little development in the village in recent years and therefore Caher has retained a very rural character. There are a number of farm buildings within the settlement boundary and much of the zoned land remains in agricultural use. The village core has a very traditional compact character, with dwellings and outbuildings tightly clustered together and many buildings located directly on the road edge. The village is highly attractive, overlooking the lake, with well maintained green areas and a small pier at the water’s edge. The natural amenities in Caher and its vicinity offer potential for tourism development, where recreational opportunities can attract visitors to the area. The entire settlement of Caher is located within the Shannon - Graney/Scarriff Margaritifera (Freshwater Pearl Mussel (FPM)) Sensitive Area. While the current status of the FPM in this catchment is unknown, there are previous records of the FPM in this catchment and therefore any proposed development will need to take into consideration the potential negative effects on this species and its habitat. Any future development should be subject to the requirements of the Habitats Directive given the proximity of the village to the Slieve Aughty designated European Site. See also the Natura Impact Report for further relevant mitigation measures and recommendations at site and project level. There is no public wastewater treatment plant in Caher. The EPA Code of Practice for Wastewater Treatment Systems must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure no significant long term effects on the surrounding European sites. General Objectives •
To ensure that existing population levels and services are maintained and to encourage new residents to the village;
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To ensure that future growth in Caher is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the population and services in the village;
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To encourage the provision of the necessary infrastructure to allow for future growth in the village;
__________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
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