Tralee Golf Club erosion protection

PERMISSION NEEDED TO RETAIN VITAL SEA DEFENCES AFTER LAW CHANGED

CHANGES to planning laws have forced Tralee Golf Club at Barrow to seek permission to retain vital erosion protection works at the renowned course on Tralee bay.

Last month management at the course – which was recently named as one of the 10 most beautiful courses in the world by website Golfscape – applied to Kerry County Council for permission to complete and retain coastal erosion protection works near holes one and two.

Previously such works would have been classed as “exempted development”, but changes to planning regulations mean that they now require a permission from the local authority.

In a submission to the KCC planning office, John Phelan Architects – acting on behalf of Tralee Golf Club – explained the need for the works.

“Tralee GC has been undertaking ongoing coastal erosion works to the golf course since 1985 and the inception of the Barrow Course 35 years ago. An ongoing process of reviewing, maintaining and augmenting these works has been in place ever since,” the submission states.

“Historically TGC have been very open with KCC about these works,” the submission adds.

“These works are considered of critical importance to the protection and preservation of the course. Without these works, whole stretches of the golf course would be lost to future generations and there would be huge consequences not only to TGC but also to Kerry, the community as a whole as well as tourism in Kerry.”

A decision on the application is due by October 4.