New planning bill will surrender local planning power to Dublin
By Naoise Coogan
Members of Kilkenny County Council have voiced their strong opinions on the new proposed Planning and Development Bill which is currently being considered by the Government.
The elected members are opposed to the Bill which they say will reduce their powers in relation to planning and development in Kilkenny city and particularly in relation to the county towns.
Cllr Mary Hilda Kavanagh speaking about the matter stated, "this bill should be stopped. It is undemocratic and it will see civil servants in Dublin deciding on settlement targets for Kilkenny instead of elected local representatives.”
She added, “the Bill will also provide for forced urbanisation. It proposes to remove almost all the powers of the local authority in the manner of making decisions about zoning in development plans. The bill challenges the long established role of the elected members in deciding the type of planning that is best for the areas he or she serves.”
Cllr Kavanagh is very concerned about the input that local authorities will have into important planning decisions in the future.
“The minister wants the remaining powers of councillors to become merely the ‘rubber stamping’ of settlement plans, development strategies and planning policies that are devised by unaccountable public servants in the Department of the Environment. Towns with less than 5,000 in population will have no plans at all and all the work of Kilkenny County Council in planning and consultation during the last number of years is wasted."
More Stories
- Two life sentences to be served by Hennessy for Christmas day murders
- Jamie to get deserved courage award at Share a Dream ball
- Homeowners urged to avail of insulation grants
- Walsh attends final local authority meeting
- Two still held over tiger kidnapping
- Social welfare cuts are not the answer says Funchion
- Construction for Top Street confirmed at Ossory Park
- Parade and Canal Bank Square to be officially opened this weekend