JANICE G.M. WILLIAMS,
Madam, - Surely the root of the problem is in the legislative environment governing land ownership, change of land use and the marketplace? Why can laws not be devised which make the added value from change of planned land use accrue to the local authority, rather than to private "developers" who are thereby encouraged to bribe politicians? Is not the added value a consequence of socio-economic development, and therefore a public good? - Yours, etc.
JANICE G.M. WILLIAMS,
Dr ROY H.W. JOHNSTON,
BSc, PhD, FInstP, CIEI,
BA Techne Associates,
Belgrave Road,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
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Madam, - A letter from Mr J. O' Flaherty published (November 20th) alleges that works associated with the Dublin Port Tunnel could have contributed to last week's flooding by the Tolka River. I wish to refute this and state that these works did not in any way give rise to problems encountered further up stream.
The works carried out at the Tolka estuary consist of a 40-metre length of entrainment and stone pitch protection to the rivers channel sides as it traverses the existing estuary's mud flats. The clear channel maintained at all times equals and exceeds that of the existing John McCormack bridge, immediately upstream of the works. Observations and photographs, taken during the flood event period, at this location, are available to any interested party.
These clearly show that no obstruction to the river's flow arose.
I will be obliged if you will kindly publish this letter to dispell any public fears or misinformation arising from Mr O' Flaherty unfounded speculation. - Yours, etc.,
T. BRICK,
Deputy City Engineer
Dublin City Council