By Sean Moriarty

Residents have been left feeling angry and fear a surge in anti-social behaviour in their area after a glamping site was granted planning permission.

APPEAL: Castle Falls Residents Association Chairman Frank Doran has lodged an appeal against the proposed glamping development.

The Castle Falls Residents Association swept into action and organised a meeting on Thursday evening last in The Killarney Avenue Hotel to air their concerns when they learned that Kerry County Council gave the green light to Killarney Glamping of Ballycasheen to build 15 glamping pods within the grounds of Killarney Racecourse.

They now plan to lodge appeals to An Bord Pleanála.

The planning includes permission to build a parking area, an office and other associated site services like a recycling and rubbish enclosure.

There are 13 conditions attached to the planning including that a staff member or security staff needs to be on site every time the pods are occupied.

The residents are worried about anti-social behaviour, particularly late at night and other issues that they feel could devalue the worth of their properties.

“Condition 13 says that if as much as one pod is occupied, then there must be at least one member of senior management or security on site. But it will be too late then, it will be built,” chairman Frank Doran said.

“Killarney is said to be one of the most-scenic racecourses in the world and they want to build something like this here?”

The Killarney Advertiser understands that the Castle Falls Residents Association appeal is one of up to 10 that will be lodged with An Bord Pleanála.