Moyasta

Moyasta

Location and Context

Moyasta is situated on the N67, northeast of Poulnasherry Bay and centred on the old railway station.

The village consists of a school, public house and contains a small number of dwelling houses. Bus Eireann runs daily bus services to Ennis, Kilrush and Kilkee. There is an existing public footpath from the national school to the centre of the village, which also passes over the old West Clare Railway line.

The village is served by the Moyasta Group Water Scheme. There is no public wastewater treatment infrastructure in the village. Any future development including alterations to existing commercial or employment generating development will require private wastewater treatment subject to suitable site-specific conditions and must ensure they are in compliance with the EPA Code of Practice for On Site Wastewater Treatment Systems.

Moyasta adjoins the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the River Shannon and River Fergus Estuaries Special Protection Area (SPA).

Future development must ensure that there are no adverse effects on the site integrity of the SAC and SPA, or the integrity of any other European site as a result of the proposed development. Accordingly, objectives set out in Volume 1 of this Plan, relating to European sites and to appropriate assessment will apply to any future development proposals in this area. The Natura Impact Report accompanying this plan (Volume 10a) provides relevant mitigation measures and recommendations at site and project level.

General Objectives:

• To ensure that growth in Moyasta is incremental in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the population and services in the village. • To make provision for the continued development of Moyasta train station and the West

Clare Railway as an important tourism asset for the village and larger West Clare area, including the development of the West Clare Railway Greenway. • To support the provision of infrastructure to allow for future growth of the village. • To improve the footpath network in the village, in particular linking the national school to the village centre.

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• To ensure that developments shall not adversely affect species and habitats designated for protection by the Habitats Directive. • To make provision for a safe and pleasant living environment, and the future development of the village by supporting traffic calming measures in the area. • To support the development of a settlement network including Moyasta and other settlements along the Shannon Estuary and Wild Atlantic Way, to assist collaborative projects and the sharing of assets and strengths including developing its economic and tourism potential as a stopping point.

Employment and Enterprise

While agriculture and tourism play a key role in the economy of Moyasta, it is also important to ensure that opportunities exist for the development of other forms of enterprise in the area, to ensure sustainable, year-round employment opportunities for the local community.

MU1 Lands West of N67

This site is located in the village core and comprises an existing public house and provides an opportunity for expansion of the existing use and an additional mix of uses such as retail and commercial.

Tourism

Moyasta is well positioned on the N67 National Road from Kilrush to Kilkee on the Wild Atlantic Way and the Shannon Estuary Way driving routes. The surrounding landscape is relatively flat, with good views of Poulnasherry Bay on the approach to the village from the southeast and from within the village. In addition to compliance with the policies and objectives set out in Volume 1 of this Plan, any development proposals on areas identified for tourism shall consider the following:

TOU1, TOU2 and TOU3 West Clare Railway and Station

The West Clare Railway is a major part of West Clare's history and although much of the structure is dismantled, Moyasta Junction has been developed as a tourist facility. It includes the fully restored ‘Slieve Callan’ steam engine. It is a specific objective of the Plan to facilitate the development of the West Clare Railway as an important tourism and recreational product for the area. The railway lands are located both to the west and east of the N67, with lands to the west located adjacent to a designated SAC. It is essential to achieve a balance between the development of the station and the implications for traffic safety and natural heritage.

These lands have been zoned for tourism purposes solely to accommodate development associated with the West Clare Railway line and proposals for other forms of tourism

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development on these lands will not, generally, be acceptable to the Planning Authority. Development on the tourism lands to the west of the N67 must not encroach on the adjacent SAC. Future development proposals on this site must also be accompanied by a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment.

Strategy for Growth and Sustainable Communities

The strategy for the sustainable growth of the village and its community is through consolidation and regeneration that promotes compact sequential growth and supports and strengthens a sustainable village community and its rural hinterland. This will be achieved by encouraging small scale growth in areas which make a positive contribution to the overall enhancement of the village and sustains it into the future. In line with this approach and to promote vibrant rural villages, village growth areas have been identified which provide opportunities and choice for development, including small scale commercial, enterprise, community, services/facilities as well as small scale cluster housing, all of which offer a viable and attractive option for rural living within a village community and setting.

In addition, any development proposals on areas identified for growth shall consider the following:

VGA1 and VGA2 North of the Settlement

These areas are located to the north of the village and are accessed from an existing local roadway. These areas may be able to accommodate small-scale development to help to enhance and strengthen the existing service base. Development on the subject lands must be reflective of the scale of the existing settlement. Siting, scale, and design shall be of a high standard and development is subject to safe access being provided from the local roadway only and not directly off the N67. The EPA Code of Practise for Wastewater Treatment Systems on these lands must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure no significant long-term effects on the River Shannon and River Fergus SPA and the Lower River Shannon cSAC.

Zoning on other Lands

OS1 East of the N67 and OS2 West of the N67

The zoning of OS1 and OS2 as open space together with the Buffer at BU1 must be strictly adhered to in order to provide sufficient buffering from the village development to the river.

AG1 and AG2 West of the N67

Any development on these lands will be strictly dependent on the adherence to the requirements of the CDP 2023-2029 with respect to the accompanying appropriate

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assessment in ensuring no significant direct or in-direct effects on the receiving environment and in particular the qualifying interest features of the SAC, SPA and the pNHA at this location.

Place Making and Regeneration

Effective gateways are needed at the entry points into the village on the N67. Several issues contribute to excessive speed within the village including the undefined set back at Garrihy’s, the carpark opposite and the school parking area. At a minimum a change of surface colour may help reduce speed. The link with the West Clare Railway is particular to Moyasta and an appropriately scaled focal point would enhance the village. Traditional brightly coloured buildings contribute to the sense of place. Moyasta is on the Wild Atlantic Way and the principles for place making on the Wild Atlantic Way are set out in Chapter 14 Volume 1 of this Plan.

Transport, Active Travel and Connectivity

In terms of public transport, Bus Eireann provide a regular bus service to and from Ennis and Kilkee and Clare Local Link also provide a daily service to Ennis and Kilrush. As well as providing a valuable and important connection to other service centres and areas of the County, these services also offer an alternative to the private car for residents and visitors and encourages a modal shift to a more sustainable transport option.

In addition, the enhancement of and provision for green infrastructure such as walking and cycling routes would promote active recreation and sustainable travel in the town and its environs. Improved facilities for pedestrians such as footpath linkages between key elements of the village would encourage pedestrian movement and improve amenities in the area. The development of the West Clare Railway Greenway along the line of the old West Clare Railway as a proposed recreational route is supported in this Plan and in particular the provision of enhanced connections to the village centre and community facilities such as the local school.

Flooding and Flood Risk

The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment in Volume 10(c) of this Plan advises that much of the existing development in Moyasta is within Flood Zone A, with risks increasing as sea level rise and climate change take effect. Redevelopment of existing buildings will require careful consideration, and design should take into account flood resilience measures, with raised floor levels being a minimum requirement.

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