Delay to Kerry's Hogs Head golf development

However, despite assurances the staff were to be ferried via shuttle bus, TII says there will be extra traffic to and from Brookhaven House around 1.5 kms outside Waterville.

With two golf courses, Waterville and Hogs Head, Golf was vital to the economy of south Kerry. However the reality was no housing was available in south Kerry for staff. 'The biggest problem in in this area is to get accommodation for staff,’ community activist Tony Donnelly said.

Hotels and other attractions in south Kerry and in Killarney were building their own accommodation for staff, and this was the reality, he said.

‘Golf is very important for the people in the area,’ Mr Donnelly who is a candidate for Fine Gael in the local elections Fianna Fail councillor and chair of the local Kenmare Municipal District Norma Moriarty has also expressed surprise at the move by TII - given there was an existing building.

The purpose-built four-star Brookhaven House B&B on the N70 is already in use as a staff house for the Hogs Head resort.

It houses around 14 young people, Irish and non-Irish between mid-March and mid-October with a shuttle bus operating to and from the resort some 5 km distance away.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) raised concern with the council last October after the plans were submitted new staff facilities. TII said the proposed development relied ‘on the use’ of a direct access to the N70, national secondary road where an 80 km speed limit applies’.

This was at variance with the provision of official policy and had to compromise the safety and efficiency of the national road network.

The plans include internal modifications to the existing guesthouse, construction of a new single story building with 20 double bedrooms and lounge area, a new laundry room, 17 car spaces and 18 covered bicycle stands.

Agents for A&M Hogs Head Golf Club Ltd had responded to the council’s request for further information saying that shuttle buses were to be in operation from the first shift at 6 am to the last return at midnight. Most of the staff at the accommodation block would be young people with no cars; the new block would lead to a reduction to the amount of traffic as the B&B would no longer be in use.

However, TII say their position has not changed since October. They have now lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanala against the council decision on the grounds of national policy as well as contravention of the new county development plan. The staff accommodation block accessing the N70 by means of an existing direct access to the national road ‘regardless of the circumstances of the proposed occupants, will inevitably bring about additional vehicular movements resulting in intensification of access onto and off the N70 national secondary Road,’ it said.

TII also said the existing planning permission the Hog’s Head proposal relies on - for the construction of a guesthouse - ‘was permitted under different development circumstances and planning policy considerations.’ This is a reference to the blanket prohibition now of any new house construction on the N70 Ring of Kerry in recent county development plans in line with national roads policy.

Granting permission would set a precedent, TII said in their lengthy appeal.

The authority also points to road deaths and safety. Restricting access to high-speed national road network contributes to a reduction in collisions and fatalities, it said.

‘Controlling the extent of direct accesses to national roads at high-speed locations and turning movements associated with such accesses is a critical element in meeting road safety objectives in accordance with the provisions of official policy,’ TII have submitted A decision is expected in August.