[Press Release: September 3rd, 2002]

INTERIM ZONING PLANS FOR SHILLELAGH AND AUGHRIM ARE UNDEMOCRATIC SAYS DE BURCA

GREEN PARTY COUNCILLOR, DEIRDRE DE BURCA, STATED THAT THE INTERIM ZONING PLANS FOR SHILLELAGH AND AUGHRIM WHICH WERE ADOPTED AT MONDAY'S MEETING OF WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL ARE "EXTREMELY UNDEMOCRATIC". COUNCILLORS ADOPTED THE INTERIM ZONING PLANS BY MEANS OF A VARIATION TO THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN. "THIS CREATES A WORRYING PRECEDENT FOR PLANNING IN THE COUNTY" SAYS COUNCILLOR DE BURCA. "COUNCILLORS HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES WILLING TO ADOPT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP WITHOUT ANY PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES".

AT MONDAY'S MEETING OF WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL, COUNCILLOR DE BURCA ARGUED THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUGHRIM AND SHILLELAGH WERE BEING COMPLETELY SIDELINED. SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE LAND THAT HAS BEEN ZONED BY THE PLANNERS IN THESE INTERIM ZONING PLANS CANNOT BE "UNZONED" AT SOME STAGE IN THE FUTURE WHEN A PROPER LOCAL AREA PLAN HAS BEEN DRAWN UP IN CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL PEOPLE.

"I AM ALSO EXTREMELY CONCERNED THAT THE AMOUNT OF LAND ZONED IN BOTH OF THESE PLANS IS FAR IN EXCESS OF WHAT IS REQUIRED TO MEET LOCAL NEED, AND WILL CERTAINLY EXCEED THE POPULATION LIMITS SET FOR SHILLELAGH AND AUGHRIM IN THE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN". COUNCILLOR DE BURCA POITS OUT THAT BOTH SHILLELAGH AND AUGHRIM FALL WITHIN THE HINTERLAND OF COUNTY WICKLOW AND THAT DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THESE AREAS SHOULD BE FOR LOCAL GROWTH ONLY.

COUNCILLOR DE BURCA EXPRESSED PARTICULAR SURPRISE THAT THE INTERIM PLAN ADOPTED FOR SHILLELAGH PAID NO REGARD TO THE SPECIAL ESTATE CHARACTER OF THE VILLAGE. "COUNCILLORS HAVE ADOPTED A CRUDE ZONING PLAN FOR THE VILLAGE THAT IS NOT BASED ON ANY ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC VILLAGE. IN EFFECT, THE INTERIM ZONING PLANS AMOUNT TO NO MORE THAN A DEVELOPERS CHARTER. THE PLANNING PROCESS IN COUNTY WICKLOW HAS REACHED A NEW LOW WITH THE ADOPTION OF THESE UNDEMOCRATIC INTERIM ZONING PLANS".

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