Madam, - With reference to a report in your edition of November 13th headed "Dunleer plan 'will help open station' ", An Taisce contends that it would have been appropriate for Louth County Council to compile a master plan for the reopening of Dunleer railway station before it permitted any development in its immediate vicinity.
In deciding to grant permission for two developments on land adjoining the now closed railway station, the council's management ignored the recommendations of its senior planner, Gerry Duffy, who said one of these schemes was "inappropriate in Dunleer village in terms of its nature, density, height and character and requires major downsizing and redesign if it is to be favourably considered". There are three key arguments against what is currently happening in Dunleer:
1. The inappropriate contravention of its own plan by Louth County Council, whereby lands zoned for amenity purposes were then proposed to facilitate residential development.
2. The two cases at present before An Bord Pleanála, if permitted in their current form, will effectively prevent the reopening of Dunleer railway station - a pre-eminent need in terms of sustainable development.
3. A current application for phase one of three phases for a housing estate on lands inappropriately zoned for housing.
We urge Minister for the Environment John Gormley to review planning policy on places such as Dunleer which are experiencing significant population growth. New development should not just be about providing houses, apartments and shops, but should make include new amenities and necessary social infrastructure. - Yours, etc,
GERALD F. CRILLY, (Member of An Taisce National Council), Dunleer, Co Louth.