[Press Release: April 26th, 2002]

WICKLOW GREEN'S POLICIES FOR WICKLOW

Health
-The reduction of waiting lists in the county through the immediate expansion and upgrading of facilities at Loughlinstown Hospital.
-Planning for a new central hospital for Wicklow in the longer term.
-Free medical cards for low and medium income families.
-More investment in preventative healthcare.

Housing
-Fast-tracking the council's social/affordable housing programme in Wicklow.
-Ensuring that the housing needs of Wicklow people are prioritised.
-Promoting higher building standards and ensuring energy-efficient, well-designed houses for all.

Waste
-The introduction of a complete doorstep recycling service in towns and villages, and mobile collections in rural areas.
-NO to incineration and superdumps.
-Free waste collection for elderly and unemployed.
-Cleaning up our streets and the full enforcement of the Litter Pollution Act

Planning
-Ensuring an open, fair and transparent planning system that treats everybody equally.
-Full community involvement in drawing up Local Area Plans.
-Providing local communities with proper notification and adequate consultation processes in relation to any new developments in their areas.

Transport
-Promoting modern, efficient public transportation as an alternative to traffic jams and congestion.
-Providing a modern and effective rail service for Wicklow.
-More rural buses and a better bus service on the N11 route, including adequate bus shelters.
-Proper compensation for property owners whose land is subject to CPO for road improvements.

Local Government Reform
-Ensuring open, accountable local government.
-Greater public access to information, including in electronic form (e.g. minutes of council meetings, planning information).
-More community representatives on policy-making bodies within the council.
-No to the privatisation of vital public services.

Rural Development
-Maintaining rural villages through investment in community centres and social and recreational facilities for all.
-Promoting and developing rural enterprise, including organic farming, renewable energy and sustainable forestry projects.

Protecting the Environment
-The provision of pure, safe drinking water for ALL the people of Wicklow.
-Strict enforcement of laws against illegal dumping.
-Making sure that the highest levels of protection are in place for greenbelts, wetlands, special landscapes and amenity areas in the county.
-Proper conservation of heritage sites and buildings.
-The closure of Sellafield

For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org.