A chara, - Thank you for printing the recent item concerning the proposed development of some 600 houses between Delgany and Kilcoole.
As a frequent visitor and intending resident, I write to reflect the growing concern of those of us who either choose to live, or were born, in the rural villages south of Dublin. These villages are part of our heritage, and as such, should be cherished and preserved.
The people in charge of such developments pay little or scant regard to the views of local residents. Further, they do not seem to take into account that 600 new houses will mean a similar number of motor vehicles, or did the developers think that all the new residents would travel by bicycle or on the back of a donkey through the few remaining green fields?
If we are not careful, Delgany, Kilcoole and Greystones will lose their separate identities along with their community life, and will simply become a grey suburb of Dublin. Is it not time that a new national body was set up to investigate and regulate these vast new conurbations?
In any event, the recently published census survey does not indicate that we are in need of so many new houses. I have never understood why so many of my fellow countrymen seem to take the rather simplistic view that "new is always best". We should proud of our heritage, and the architecture which has been left to us by our forefathers.
Perhaps one answer is that these so called developers should be made to spend six months in Kilburn, followed by another six in Boston, so that they can appreciate the results of their lofty ideals! - Yours, etc.,
Hawkes Road,
Kingston-upon-Thames.