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[Press Release: July 7th, 2003] GREENS CLAIM PROPOSED TINAHELY INDUSTRIAL ZONING CONTRAVENES STRATEGIC PLANNING GUIDELINES FOR GREATER DUBLIN AREAGreen Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca has challenged a proposal by Wicklow County council to zone up to 30 acres of land on the outskirts of Tinahely for industrial purposes. She claims that this proposal, which is to come before councillors as a material contravention of the County Development Plan over the next few months, will "seriously undermine any attempt to properly implement the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area".According to councillor de Burca, the local Development Plan that was adopted by Wicklow County Council last year did not include provision for this "sub-regional employment zone" but did make mention of the intention to zone land for this purpose in the future. "I find it hard to understand how the Planning Section of Wicklow County Council can stand over this proposal" she says. "While we all want to see more employment opportunities being created in the county, the SPGs which Wicklow has signed up to indicate that Arklow is the dedicated Growth Centre for the south of the county and it is there that any substantial employment zoning should occur". Councillor de Burca points out that Tinahely does not possess the infrastructure that would allow such large-scale industrial development to successfully proceed. She points out the the road network in the area would not be adequate to cater for the traffic that such a large development would generate and she argues that large-scale industrial zoning will greatly detract from the rural and attractive character of the village. "I want the council to explain to me why this employment zoning is not being proposed for Arklow Town which is only 15 kilometres or so from Tinahely" she says. "Arklow has the transport and other infrastructure to cope with such development and people from Tinahely and other villages in South Wicklow would be able to avail of the new employment opportunities because of the proximity of Arklow". Councillor de Burca has stated her intention to vote against any material contravention that comes before the councillors on Wicklow County Council seeking the rezoning of large amounts of land at Tinahely. She argues that if the contravention was passed by the councillors, local people could successfully appeal any planning permissions granted by the council to an Bord Pleanala. She argues that such appeals are likely to be successful because the Board will recognise that this large-scale employment zoning at Tinahely is in breach of the Strategic Planning Guidelines. For further information please contact Deirdre de Burca on 086 8061450 or email deburca@wicklowgreens.org. |