Emotive Carlow plans for debate

CARLOW COUNTY Council will tomorrow debate plans to rezone 90 acres of the town's historic Oakpark demense for housing as part of a new local area plan for Carlow and its environs.

Oakpark demense, originally a 1,500-acre estate, is located to the north of Carlow town and includes a granite-built main house dating from the mid-1760s.

The house and 750 acres are now owned by Teagasc, while 200 acres are owned by Carlow Golf Club, and the local rugby club holds another 15 acres. Some 120 acres were opened by Carlow County Council as a forest park in June 2006. A number of other sports clubs are on adjacent lands.

However, Carlow County Council has now proposed that some 90 acres, owned mainly by Nolan Transport, based in New Ross, Co Wexford, be rezoned for housing and a mixed-use development.

But the plan has angered local people, who sent in 5,000 submissions opposing the scheme, pointing out that the current local area plan adopted in 2003 zoned Oakpark as "demesne and amenity" with a specific commitment to refuse inappropriate development.

Discussion documents put forward by the county council indicated a new road through Oakpark, partly on Teagasc lands, which would provide an arterial route from the town's Dublin road to the Athy road. Locals were concerned that the road would be a spine for development in the area.

Styling themselves the Save Oakpark Group, they say that they were particularly angered at the local authority's handling of their submissions. Paul White, of Save Oakpark, pointed out that the recent planners' report on public consultation was disparaging to their concerns.

The report commented: "A limited number of particular issues have been reiterated by the use of photocopied plebiscite - increasing the correspondence, only, of the process."

According to Mr White, the local authority's comment indicated that it had failed "to acknowledge the depth of feeling and concern among Carlovians at the proposed destruction of the treasured lands at Oakpark".

Despite the unfavourable planners' report, locals are still convinced that Oakpark can be kept intact. They have pointed out that the adoption of the local area plan is a reserved function of the local councillors, who can block it if they desire.

"It is the stated wish of the people that Oakpark demesne be retained in its present form and it will require the determination and courage of our councillors to deliver this outcome," Mr White said.