Trump's planning permission request at Clare golf club stalled by snails
Plans for improvements at Trump Inter‐ national Golf Links & Hotel Doonbeg in Co Clare have been stalled due to a pro‐ tected 2mm snail, the Vertigo Angustior. Trump's TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd ap‐ plied for planning permission for a num‐ ber of developments at Trump Interna‐ tional Golf Links and Hotel in February, including "the construction of a new boiler room, pickle ball courts, basket‐ ball court, and two soft play areas at Doughmore House and minor alter‐ ations."
According to the Irish Examiner, a report lodged with the application states that given its location outside the terrestrial Special Area of Conservation (SAC) areas, the golf course proper, and the absence of the snail on the works areas,
“there is no potential for the proposed development to adversely affect the in‐ tegrity of Vertigo Angustior conserva‐ tion objectives."
However, Clare County Council has re‐ quested further information from TIGL regarding seven different items, includ‐ ing the snails.
In 2014, it was reported that there were tens of millions of Vertigo Angustior on Trump's land and at Shannon Airport. At the time, Trump said he would be a friend to the protected snails.
Clare County Council has received sev‐ eral letters from members of the public both in support and opposition to the proposed plans at Trump Doonbeg. Diarmuid O'Donnell told the Council that "it is imperative that this green industry is allowed to expand and create more jobs in west Clare which are badly wan‐ ted when rural Ireland is collapsing around us," RTÉ reports.
Local businessman Hugh McNally wrote in a letter to the Council that Trump's golf resort "has enriched the lives of many people locally and therefore all opportunities for growth and develop‐ ment must be embraced to allow this business to thrive."
He continued: "As a business owner op‐ erating in the village for the past 25 years, the importance of Trump Doon‐ beg cannot be overstated and has had a hugely positive impact for all fellow business owners."
He added: "The quality of the lives of people living locally has risen substan‐ tially since the arrival of the golf club." Others are concerned about the traffic created by the proposed development. Joe Pender and Jenny Lynch wrote to the Council objecting to the plans, saying in part: "This quiet road is home to six chil‐ dren who walk and cycle this road and their safety would be a concern." Another couple from Caherfeenick, Cree stated that "most importantly, the pro‐ posed development will have a negative impact on the value of our property." They said: "On the advice of a local auc‐ tioneer, we have been advised that it would be up to a reduction of 20%."