Sir, - As a concerned resident of Kilcoole in Co Wicklow, I was delighted with Tim O'Brien's article on the planning problems in the county (December 4th). At last, somebody is listening to the people who are protesting against the outrageous development being proposed by our county council.
The people of Kilcoole are not anti-development. We do, however, have serious worries about the council's Draft Plan. The main issues are: excessive residential and industrial development, an industrial road cutting through school lands, new roads which cut across an ancient amenity walk (which the council says must be protected), and the neglect of our existing roads.
The Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey, has expressed his concerns that the Plan may not comply with the strategic planning guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area. I can assure him that it does not. Kilcoole is classed as part of the hinterland and strategic green belt in the Guidelines. This means that any development in the village must be to serve only local needs. The Council states in the Plan that there is "large unsatisfied regional demand" for housing. This is their justification for attempting to almost double the population in five years.
A council spokesman stated (The Irish Times, December 6th) that local needs "could take in those who worked in the metropolitan area and wished to live in Kilcoole". Unfortunately, when residents apply to the same council for individual planning permission, they are not deemed "local" unless they have lived within a four-mile radius for at least 20 years. Wicklow County Council has an opportunity to create an imaginative, pro-active plan which would improve the quality of life for present and future generations. We are in the Garden County and should develop our towns and villages accordingly. Hopefully, Wicklow County Council will listen to the voice of the people of Wicklow. If not, perhaps they will heed the words of the Minister. - Yours, etc.,
Fionnuala O'Mahoney, Kilcoole Community Development Association, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.