BY E-MAIL AND POST
Padraig Malone Esq.,
Staff Officer,
Planning, Environment and Development Department,
Clare County Council,
New Road, Co. Clare.
E-Mail:
26th February 20 14PM/LM/4014/008DSL/SR
RE:Development at Cloonmore, Doonbeg, Co. Clare
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Dear Sir,
Please be advised that that this firm has been retained to represent Trump International Hotel & Golf Links Doonbeg, Ireland in connection with all planning matters before Clare County Council. Accordingly, please direct all future correspondence to my attention.
As per our client’s meeting with your representatives Messrs. Gerard Dollard & Gordon Daly, we are in receipt of your enforcement notice of 21st February, 2014 and our clients have complied with all the requests set forth within and consider the matter resolved. Moreover, our client found the meeting very productive in making sure all parties are aligned in working towards everyone's common goals; to restore Doonbeg Golf Club to it's former grandeur.
As you are aware our client’s property suffered a series of storms which were the most catastrophic ever faced on the West Coast of Ireland and beyond. Evidence of this damage was brought to your attention in our client’s report to you on 16th January, 2014 in which they sought immediate emergency support from your council. Since then the damage has progressed and become far worse. In short, the main economic driver for this business, the golf course, has experienced unprecedented damage, including the following:
- 30 metres of erosion along the entire coast line which continues to accelerate daily into the golf course due to winds and surge tides.
- Five holes and other essential areas out of service rendering the course unplayable and inoperable.
Cont’d………………
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- Loss of greens, tees and critical irrigation components.
- Significant flooding and drainage issues and millions of euros of damage throughout the entire site.
As you know the club is amongst the most important tourist attractions not only in CountyClare but inIreland. More importantly this business is one of the largest
employers in this county, employing 350 Clare residents, many of which of the primary and sole earners for their families. Furthermore, the property contributes well over €10.M annually in direct payroll and expenditures to local suppliers, services and small business. Indirect spend of tourists visiting Doonbeg is independently estimated at €30M per annum.
Internationally the course and it's facilities have won worldwide esteem including Best New International Course, Golf Digest 2003; IAGTOA, European Golf resort of the year 2010; Travel & Leisure, 3rd Best resort in Europe; Conde Nast, Best Golf Resort 2013 as well as being consistently ranked in Golf Worlds Publication, Top 100 golf courses in the world for the past number of years.
To put it bluntly, the asset and business is in a state of emergency. The course, in it's current damaged and inoperable state, is simply unfit for opening for the season ahead. Our members and property owners, tour operators, clients and key business partners phone daily to inquire as to the status of our golf course. These operators are concerned about sending their clients amidst recent news reports about receivership and the catastrophic nature of the storm damage.
Furthermore we are concerned that a serious health and safety concern exists for our guests and that of the public based on an unstable condition on our property that deteriorates daily. It is apparent that any such further damage will have a serious impact not only on the course but also on the small area of the development designated as an S.A.C. I can advise that the protection from the elements that had been provided when the course was initially constructed has been destroyed leaving the site completely unprotected and incredibly dangerous.
As stated repeatedly, The Trump Organization has demonstrated the willingness in terms of effort and expenditure to protect their land without any obligation on the Irish taxpayer. Specifically prior to closing on the purchase of the property, they have agreed to immediately implement the conditions already approved by An Bord Pleanala in
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April 2011, which while necessary for all of the aforementioned reasons, were never completed by the previous owner due to a lack of financial resources.
Our client has retained a prominent Irish contractor, S.O.L Golf Construction who is an expert in the remediation of coastal dune erosion and has worked on numerous prestigious projects, under the auspices of The Royal & Ancient to undertake the scope of work and ensure compliance with the conditions set forth in the prior approval. Our client has also retained Dianne McDonogh of Town and Country Resources Planning Consultants to immediately satisfy the conditions in contemplation of commencing
emergency and resort saving works by the end of the week. She has been authorised to liaise with you as soon as possible.
It is our client’s intention to commence these works as soon as reasonably possible. To that end, we are working vigorously to satisfy the planning conditions and will
endeavour to will deliver them as soon as possible. However, please be advised that given the emergency nature of the situation facing the owner, any obstruction of these efforts, which are vital to the survival of the business, will force our client to hold you responsible for any resulting damages and/or loss to the property, including lost income, business and the livelihoods of our many great employees who depend on a fully operational 18 hole facility. While there was a consensus at the conclusion of our meeting as to the appropriate actions to be taken and a good faith agreement to work towards mutual cooperation, we havebeen instructed by our client to pursue all available legal remedies in the event these emergency measures are disrupted.
Our client looks forward to a great relationship for many years to come and I can say with absolute certainty that the Trump family will make Co Clare and Ireland very proud.
Yours sincerely,
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DAVID S. LEAHY
LEAHY & PARTNERS