De Burca urges public to make submissions on Draft Settlement Strategy for County Wicklow
Following Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council at which a Draft Settlement Strategy for County Wicklow was adopted by councillors, Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca, has called on members of the public to make submissions on the strategy.
“This Settlement Strategy is one of the most important documents that the current council will have to vote on,” says de Burca. “Basically it will decide how much development should take place in County Wicklow up to 2016, and where that development should take place”.
According to the Green Party councillor, County Wicklow is under enormous development pressure from Dublin. She claims that in order to prevent urban sprawl across the county, a clear Settlement Strategy is necessary to control the development and to make sure that it is concentrated in the right areas.
“The Draft Settlement Strategy that is going out on public display in the next few weeks allows 100% of new housing developed in Bray, Wicklow/Rathnew, Arklow and Greystones/Delgany to be sold on the open market with no restrictions” says de Burca. “It is proposed that 80% of new houses in Blessington and Newtownmountkennedy will be sold on the open market with no restrictions and 20% will be reserved for people working and living in the county for at least a year. In the case of Ashford, Aughrim, Baltinglass, Carnew, Enniskerry, Kilcoole and Rathdrum, 50% of new houses built will be sold on the open market without restrictions and the other 50% to those who have lived or worked in the county for at least a year”.
De Burca says that 100% of new houses in Avoca, Dunlavin, Kilmacanogue, Newcastle, Roundwood and Tinahely will be restricted to those who have lived or been employed in County Wicklow for the past five years.
“I have some concerns about the proposed Settlement Strategy” says de Burca. “However, I agreed that it could go out on public display so that we can get an idea of how the public feels about it. I would urge people to make submissions on the Draft Strategy and to express their views. The Draft Strategy will come back in front of Wicklow County Councillors in June for final changes before it is adopted”.
