Madam, - It was a pity that An Taisce's Ian Lumley seemed so cowed in the face of criticism on RTÉ's Questions and Answers last Monday. In the face of hostility he failed to refute the charge of "aesthetic snobbery" levelled at his organisation by omitting to mention the importance of design in relation to private housing in the countryside.
It is a well known fact that an awareness of aesthetics and visual qualities are generally sorely lacking in this country. This has resulted in the creation of thousands of hideous bungalows and other dwellings being thrown up, often detracting from Ireland's natural beauty. This is something that would not be tolerated anywhere else in Europe.
While there is a strong argument to be made for repopulating the countryside following our change of economic fortune, it appears the aesthetic outcome is rarely considered. Sadly, local gombeen councillors and indeed the occupants of such dwellings do not know how visually offensive these structures are. In such circumstances design guidelines should be imposed upon them.
This is not snobbery; it is simply a pragmatic way of protecting the quality of the built environment for future generations. - Yours, etc.,
Dr DERMOT BARRETT,
Clyde Road,
Dublin 4.
Madam, - As the Local and European elections approach we are witnessing an increasing backlash against environmental issues, particularly, on the issue of one-off housing. With vested interests which have the ear of county councillors, seeing every field as a potential building site, Michael Davitt must be turning in his grave.
Over 50 years ago Robert Lloyd Praeger, first president of An Taisce, foresaw that ignorance and selfishness could create a conflict between the pursuit of economic progress and the protection of Ireland's heritage. How right he was.
RTÉ's Questions and Answers last Monday included two TDs from the Western seaboard on the panel, one standing for Europe. Both came out passionately against An Taisce and its policy on one-off housing.
Some people play the race card for political advantage; in the West, for the sake of a few votes, we scapegoat An Taisce - the National Trust, which acts as the custodian of our heritage and of the natural and built environment .
After this orgy of house building we see all around us, we will wake up and discover, with the decline in tourism, how right An Taisce has been. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN F. FALLON,
Boyle,
Co Roscommon.