GREENS CLAIM ENNISKERRY RESIDENTS OPPOSED TO NEW POWERSCOURT DEVELOPMENT

Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, claims that she has been contacted by Ms Sarah Slazenger on behalf of the Powerscourt Estate, and lobbied to support a Material Contravention that could come before the councillors on Wicklow County Council in September."The proposed development is quite substantial" says de Burca. "Ir comprises 108 holiday homes, retail units and offices in the environs of Powerscourt House".

The Green Party councillor claims that she is concerned that the proposed material contravention is likely to come before councillors within a year of the 2002 Enniskerry Town Plan being adopted. "As a rule I do not support material contraventions, particularly where a Development Plan has only been adopted in the last year or two" she says. "If this was such an essential development, why did the Powerscourt Estate not submit its proposals when the Town Plan was being drawn up, and allow the people of the area to examine what was being proposed".

Councillor de Burca reports that she was dismayed to find that while the proposers of the new development claimed they had the support of the Irish Georgian Society, that the Georgian Society denied these claims.

The Green Party councillor has stated her own opposition to the proposed development. "This development, if it proceeds, will put an intolerable strain on an already overstretched water and sewerage system in Enniskerry village" she says. "Furthermore, it will take potential custom away from shops and businesses in the villlage itself. I will certainly not be supporting any material contravention which comes in front of Wicklow County Council in order to facilitate this development".

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