Enniskerry Plan Passed with Stringent Conditions

The Enniskerry local area plan was passed by Wicklow County Council on Monday with a number of stringent conditions laid down by members. While the plan went through, aspects of it did not escape the wrath of some members.

Councillor Deirdre de Burca felt it was developer driven rather than suiting the needs of the local community. `To put a

Enniskerry: Huge increase in traffic

major development on Kilgarron Hill just because it suits is not really the way forward. Planning applications could be challenged and I might possibly object myself', she added.

However, Councillor de Burca said that if she felt it was possible to get agreement from the Council on the implementation of traffic management measures she would agree to support the plan.

Deputy Mildred Fox said she was also concerned about the traffic situation in the village and this aspect of the plan needed to be more strongly worded. `If we build houses on Kilgarron Hill, it will hugely increase traffic through the village', she added.

Councillor John Byrne felt that the biggest problem in Enniskerry is services and infrastructure and said that the Council did not serve the area well in the past. `We were told when agreeing to the Powerscourt development that levies would be

Development levies to be ring fenced

ploughed into the village but in actual fact, the area received nothing', said Councillor Byrne.

Deputy Dick Roche said it was a scandal that the village received nothing from the Powerscourt development except a mall with plastic windows which is now an office complex.

`It was the worst rip-off I ever witnessed and I have to say that An Taisce supported everything that went on there. The guardians of political correctness did not want to know', he added.

Claiming that traffic calming measures were vital, Deputy Roche suggested that the Council borrows the money to put these measures into place before the levies arrive.

After lengthy debate, it was agreed, following a proposal from Councillor Pat Vance, to pass the plan with a number of conditions that included a traffic plan within six months, the compulsory purchase of more land to provide sheltered and affordable housing, the ring fencing of development levies to ensure the money is spent in the community and a review of the proposed northern relief road in six years.