Who really approved creeping urbanisation?

ANN MALLORY (Irish Examiner letters, February 10) is correct about the unattractive, creeping urbanisation and industrialisation occurring between Cork city and Midleton.

This may not always be down to the ‘planners’. I recall, through your own pages, that the county planning authorities vigorously opposed the rezoning of farmland for 2,000 houses on the ‘wrong side’ of the Midleton-Cork dual carriageway.

If I recollect correctly, this was because of the traffic dangers associated with the development, the lack of amenities and the significant distance from the ‘new’ Midleton railway station (which would encourage commuting by car rather than public transport).

The planners’ recommendations were over-ridden by county councillors on the basis that such a development was “in the public interest”. One can only wonder what particular interest that was. Unfortunately, your paper did not report in detail the councillors’ reasons for reversing this planning recommendation.

It might be enlightening to see how many of the developments along this corridor were approved by the planners and how many were in consequence of councillors not adhering to the advice of the county’s professional staff?

Donal Fellows

Ul. Prosta 70

Warsaw 00-838

Poland