Labour bill to tackle hasty decisions on development

THE LABOUR Party will next month publish a Private Member’s Bill aimed at forcing Councils to give much more detailed consideration to county development plans.

Following recent re-zoning controversies in Wicklow County Council, Labour’s deputy leader Liz McManus said she was gravely concerned at the “rushed and incoherent approach” some councils adopted in preparing their development plans.

Councillors in Wicklow have come under particular scrutiny since a marathon 18-hour meeting in July made 17 re-zoning decisions, including one which got the go-ahead after members were incorrectly informed that Ardmore film studios would move to the site.