Madam, - I am surprised that you should allow The Irish Times to be used by an employee to give a totally unbalanced report of the proposals to improve and develop Greystones Harbour and North Beach.
It is even more surprising that the author of the article on the proposals in last Saturday's Weekend Review - the Irish Times managing editor Peter Murtagh - is the same person who co-wrote The Boss, the famous book on C.J. Haughey which detailed abuse of power by the former Fianna Fáil leader. Was Saturday's article not a major abuse of Mr Murtagh's position, and a sad failing by you, Madam Editor, to provide balanced and fair reporting? What makes the article even poorer is the amount of misinformation and downright inaccurate comments. Firstly, can I say Mr Murtagh did not even bother to contact me for a comment even though I am listed as "leading the charge" for the project?
To point to just some of the inaccurate comment and misinformation:
(a) No public rights of way will be given to Sispar.
(b) The 6,500 square metres of retail will not be like Woodies of Bray but will contain cafés, restaurants, shops, etc.
(c) The history of the proposals started in 1984 and not 1991.
(d) Fine Gael is not resolutely in partnership with Fianna Fáil, and if Mr Murtagh had undertaken some proper research on the issue he would have found that this project has been supported by councillors from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and, yes, Labour, along with a large number of non-party councillors.
(e) There is no exposed illegal dump in Greystones. Maybe the problem currently in Bray has got mixed up in the writer's mind so as to paint the worst possible picture. Did Mr Murtagh leave his Burnaby residence to see the Greystones Harbour area in recent times?
(f) Tracey Enterprises has nothing to do with the present proposals other than having some of its land subject to a CPO.
(g) I have been available to talk to anybody who has concerns on the harbour and have displayed no "political cowardice" on this project.
I could go on and list other items, and of course include some of the positive elements of the project which were totally omitted from Saturday's article - items such as the provision of an improved access to the world famous Greystones-Bray Cliff Walk, coastal erosion protection, community facilities for current harbour users like the Rowing Club, Sailing Club and Sea Scouts among many others, the provision of a new harbour and marina, much improved car-parking facilities for harbour users and the general public, a public park and of course an enhanced living community in this part of Greystones.
I am well aware of the concern of the local community regarding the size of the proposals and traffic and indeed have spoken or replied to any queries I have received in recent weeks. People may disagree with my views but I have been a local councillor for over 26 years and have done my best to bring about real improvements to the lovely town of Greystones and at this stage in my career I am not about to attempt to destroy the area I was born in and continue to live in to this day.
I do ask for balance and I must congratulate the Bray People, East Coast FM, Wicklow Times, and indeed RTÉ's Pat Kenny Show for the fairness they have shown in this debate to date. - Yours, etc,
GEORGE A. JONES MCC, TC, Greystones, Co Wicklow.
Peter Murtagh's position in The Irish Times was stated at the foot of the article. And in the eighth paragraph of the article, he formally declared his involvement in the campaign against the proposed development. - Ed., IT.