Sir, - I write to support Michael Murphy (March 1st) and to assurehim that in the scenic parts, at least, of south-west Kerry,"development" must surpass the worst areas in Mayo.
The problem is not as simple as it might appear, however.
Visitors are the lifeblood of the region, but they must be held inthe region, and therefore must have a place to stay. At the same time,they come to the region because of its scenery and undeveloped state,and every additional new house depreciates the scenery. So there is agrave danger of killing the golden goose.
The outrageous prices being paid for sites are an unbearabletemptation for landowners. Many applications are for sites "for a sonor a daughter" and the owner is blamed if the site is then sold to avisitor instead. But in many cases this sale is negotiated to enablethe "child", who has moved into a city, to put a deposit on a housethere which he or she could not otherwise afford.
County councillors are often castigated for the U-turns they forcethrough, against professional advice, on planning matters. But it isonly human nature that they should work to ensure their ownre-election, and in these matters they are under enormous pressure fromtheir constituents.
The right solution, which probably in practice is unachievable,would be that, after the development plan is approved, all planningdecisions are then removed altogether from the remit of councillors andleft solely to trained officials.
But however it is arranged, it is most urgently essential that thecurrent spread of suburbia to our scenic areas should be stopped. -Yours, etc.,
Caherdaniel,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.
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Sir, - I suggest Cllr John Carty (March 5th) takes a drive down theback roads around his home town and counts the amount of derelicthouses. There are hundreds of them around Knock and I'm sure thousandsin Mayo, all left to rot and decay.
Perhaps he would be brave enough to start a compulsory purchasescheme to have these houses brought back into daily use. Unfortunately,helping misguided people to destroy the countryside gets more votes sothis won't happen. Mayo needs some brave local politicians to sort thisproblem out. What it doesn't need is more new houses on greenfieldsites.
How many of the people who "wish to settle down on land which theirfamilies have owned for generations" have built the house and sold itfor a quick buck later? - Yours, etc.,
GAVIN TOBIN,
Simmonstown Manor,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare.