Last-minute appeal to change county plan

THE draft county development plan, due to be ratified today (Dec 9) by Kerry County Council, is seriously flawed and, even at this 11th hour, has to be amended.

It is flawed because it does not have a policy for 'areas with special needs' those with seriously declining populations and because it does not represent the legitimate interests of people in the rural areas of the county.

On November 10 last, on the occasion of an important vote on the plan, only 15 of the 27 members of the county council were present.

Were the remaining 12 not concerned about the impact of this plan on their constituents or was their absence an escape route by which they could shirk their responsibility and hopefully avoid any adverse consequences?

Prior to the Nov 10 council meeting, Sneem-Castlecove-Caherdaniel IRD Ltd had sent a submission to all 27 councillors seeking to have a policy for 'areas with special needs' included in the plan. This would remove obstacles for people wishing to build homes in areas like ours that are crying out for more people.

We again ask all councillors to amend the plan. Failure to do so is to place the interests of a tiny minority of speculators before the common good.

Tim O'Sullivan,

Chairman,

Sneem-Castlecove-Caherdaniel IRD Ltd.,

Sneem,

Co Kerry.