Sir, - I write to you as someone whose belief in the democratic process has been seriously undermined by the decision of Bray Urban District Council to grant planning permission for housing at the foot of Bray Head. This permission was granted by the council officials even though the 12 elected councillors of Bray UDC voted against it, and despite the fact that a petition opposing the development was signed by 10,000 Bray residents.
As a member of the Green Party, my belief in the importance of local democracy is absolute and my party has long been active in highlighting the necessity for local government reform in Ireland. Despite the encouraging developments in environmental policymaking at an EU level, and a growing recognition in EU law of the rights of local communities to be consulted in relation to decision-making which directly affects their lives, local government in Ireland appears to retain a narrow and extremely undemocratic approach to the execution of its functions.
Following the oral hearing with an Bord Pleanala on January 12th, one can only imagine that the democratic deficit which has characterised the recent decision-making processes of Bray UDC will be recognised. It is to be hoped that an Bord Pleanala will find such undemocratic conduct on the part of a local authority to be incompatible with good planning practice. - Yours, etc., Deirdre De Burca,
Novara Avenue, Bray, Co Wicklow.