High-rise apartments only benefit high-rollers
The most recent example of this phenomenon surfaced when the Government acknowledged that the tax breaks on developments such as the Section 50 high-rise apartments should be discontinued.
If party leaders and others needed advice on the wisdom of such developments, they could have listened to the pleadings of residents of the Wilton/Bishopstown area of Cork city, who are plagued with east European- style apartments in their community. In recent years we have been told by our elected ‘betters’ that apartments were badly needed to house students and to attract young families back to the area when, in fact, all that was achieved by it was to make an extra million or two for the high-rollers.
Now we have to endure the crocodile tears of some city councillors who, after years of inaction, tell us they are fighting for a local area plan so that ‘we’ can choose the colour of the imitation sandstone, limestone or whatever cladding they use on these buildings. This is too little, too late. We have a message for our local councillors’ masters in Dublin. The next time any of you want to expose inequities in our political/business/tax systems, please don’t climb any lamp-posts in north Dublin (or Cork) with your heads in the clouds.
Ask the dogs in the street... they know what is going on. The level of frustration in local politics in Cork is reflected in the fact that the a website set up 18 months ago to allow residents to vote on the performance of their elected councillors has received more than 60,000 hits to date. Visit us on www.corksouthwest.com.
Now where did I put that ticket for the Galway races?
Mick Murphy
Communities for Sustainable Development
‘Hilltop’
Model Farm Road
Cork
