ROGER GARLAND,
Madam, - It is now nearly four years since Wicklow County Council adopted its development plan. This plan contained a very specific commitment to consider making Special Area Amenity Orders for Bray Head, Great Sugar Loaf, Little Sugar Load and the Dargle Valley. The purpose of these orders is to give these areas the highest possible environmental protection. SAAOs have been authorised for Howth Head and part of the Liffey Valley. They appear to be working well and KIO is pressing very strongly for similar Orders for the areas mentioned above, but particularly for Bray Head.
It is hardly necessary to provide a detailed case for special protection of this wonderful amenity which is enjoyed by many visitors from other parts of Ireland and from abroad. For those of you who have visited the area it should be self-evident. We understand from the Council that Bray Head has been singled out for attention ahead of the other areas which are also of great environmental value. However virtually no progress has been made on the Head, which means that the other areas are even further down the queue.
Make no mistake about it, the Head is under threats of all kinds, in particular from the latest crazy road plan which is to build a new road on the landward side of the Head above the existing road. This road would eat into a prime area of the Head and would surely render it virtually unusable as an amenity due to pollution and traffic noise.
We call on the citizens of Bray and the rest of Wicklow to lobby councillors to provide immediate funding to initiate the process. Local elections are coming. If the people of Howth and the Liffey Valley can do it, you can! - Yours, etc.,
ROGER GARLAND,
Chairman,
Keep Ireland Open,
Butterfield Drive,
Dublin 14.