Environment Minster Wants Details of Expansion Plans
December 6th, 2000
A recently reported news article in The Irish Times has brought Wicklow County Council's expansions plans to the attention of The Minister for the Environment, Mr Noel Dempsey. The Minister has asked the council to submit exact details of their proposed expansion plans for the county in compliance with the agreed Strategic Planning Guidelines. Wicklow County Council is a co-signatory of the agreement, which identified Arklow and Wicklow towns as potential centres for future development.
Additionally they identify the towns of Newtown and Kiloole, as area's to be included in
Strategic Planning Guidelines Scrutinised
|
|
their projected development schemes, with blueprint plans for the towns of Ashford and Rathnew in the offering. The Strategic Planning Guidelines argue for the expansion of the Dublin Metropolitan area, but with an emphasises on development being restricted to local needs in the so-called "Greenbelt Hinterland".
Only area's that are identified directly as falling under the guidelines for development will receive the Governments support. The Councils present outlined development scheme raises some questions as to what area's fall under the defined and very important "Local Need" specification. The council for their part argue that they are acting within the Strategic Planning Guidelines pointing out that Newtown and Kilkoole can be considered as "Local Need" when their proximity to the capital are taken into consideration. However concerns are been voiced from the Ministers department about the council's proposals and a request has been made for exact details.
|
|
