Madam, - Your edition of August 27th reports that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has ruled that a planning application for 800 new homes on part of the former Dún Laoghaire golf club can be decided in advance of a local area plan.
However, the council's contention that it is legally obliged to consider the application within the statutory time limit is not the issue in dispute.
Residents and councillors in Dún Laoghaire consider that a development of this magnitude requires particularly careful consideration and have instructed the county manager to implement a local area plan for these lands. This is a statutory document which involves the local community and ensures that essential impact studies relating to environment, infrastructure, open spaces, residential amenities and transport are carried out before a sod of earth is turned.
What is the manager afraid of? What the council failed to point out is that it is in a position to amend, reject or accept the current proposal pending the outcome of such vital studies. - Yours, etc,
MAIRÉAD MEHIGAN, Alma Road, Monkstown, Co Dublin.