Greens call on Wicklow County Council must allow input from community groups into new County Development Plan

"We cannot underestimate the importance of a new County Development Plan" says councillor de Burca. "Anyone who has objected to a planning application will know that these applications are granted or refused on the basis of the policies are outlined in the County Development Plan. This includes policies on the siting of mobile phone masts, wind turbines, landfills, residential developments, rights of way, special amenity areas, forestry etc."

Councilllor de Burca claims that she was delighted to see a large turn-out from the Wicklow Communities Network at last Monday's meeting of the council. "This is a network representing the vast majority of community organisations in the county" says de Burca. "It has made an excellent submission to Wicklow County Council concerning its vision for a new County Development Plan. Unfortunately the representatives who attended last Monday's meeting report that they do not believe that the County Manager, Eddie Sheehy, has paid sufficient attention to the content of their submission".

Councillor de Burca reports that she is very satisfied at the decision of the councillors to devote almost all of next Monday's council meeting to the issue of the new County Development Plan. "I would urge as many representatives of local groups as possible to try to be present at the council meeting next Monday afternoon" she says. "It is important for people to know what kind of decisions the councillors and the council officials are making with regard to the future development of County Wicklow. While some councillors have argued that we are at a very early stage of the process, the truth is that if people do not try to influence the Plan at this early stage, they will find it next to impossible to have items removed from the Draft Plan when it goes on public display in Wicklow".

Councillor de Burca has called on the County Manager to give full consideration to the submissions made by community groups when the Draft Development Plan is being drawn up by his officials. "We hear a lot of talk about the importance of local community input and of partnership between the local authority and the public" she says. "This is an opportunity for the Manager to show that he is serious about promoting real community involvement in decision-amking in this county" she says.

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