Sir, - Following an Bord Pleanála's recent decision on a planning application for six houses at Stratford-on-Slaney in Wicklow, I don't believe it is an exaggeration to say that the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area are currently a shambles.
In this case, an appeal was made by the developer, Chamberway, against two planning conditions laid down by Wicklow County Council. The board's response clearly demonstrated that its interpretation of "local growth" as introduced by the Strategic Planning Guidelines differed fundamentally from that of Wicklow County Council.
Unfortunately, the critical issue of defining what is meant within the Strategic Planning Guidelines by "local growth" has been fudged by the Department of the Environment. Essentially we now see a sharp divergence of opinion between local authorities, an Bord Pleanála and possibly the Department of the Environment on what is meant by this term. No clear definition has been provided and this renders the guidelines largely ineffective.
This is not the first example of a flaw in the process of implementing the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area. A previous example concerns the issue of enforcement. We have the experience in Co Wicklow of local area plans being produced for the villages of Kilcoole and Newtown that are blatantly in breach of the SPGs. Unfortunately, there are no mechanisms in place for sanctioning local authorities that refuse to fulfil their responsibilities under the SPGs.
I call on the Minister for the Environment to provide immediate assistance to local authorities in agreeing a definition of "local growth" that is true to the original intention of the Strategic Planning Guidelines.
I also call on him to amend, if necessary, the Planning and Development Act 2000 to ensure that this definition has a legal basis and that clear mechanisms are put in place with regard to the enforcement of the guidelines. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr DEIRDRE de BURCA,
Oaklands,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.