Councillors adopt Bray Local Area Plan after number of changes

MEMBERS of Wicklow County Council adopted the Bray Municipal District Local Area Plan after making a number of amendments to the draft at May’s monthly meeting.

Cllr Christopher Fox proposed that 1.5 acres in Kilmacanogue should be zoned as a Secondary Development Zone to facilitate potential employment development.

‘I am proposing to modify the 1.5 acres to there ar of the existing zoning, I am trying to facilitate residents currently accessing the N11 directly. The owner is willing to facilitate a road,’ he said.

His proposal was passed with 24 votes in favour.

Cllr Fox also proposed a material alteration to plans for the Dargle River Walk. Part of the plan includes the promotion of the Darg le river bank as a leisure and natural amenity area, through the development of a Dargle River Walk along the south bank of the river. Cllr Fox wanted the phrase ‘in conjunction with landowners’ to be inserted into the wording.

‘The only way to progress is through consultation,’ said Cllr Fox. ‘CPOs were issued for the flood protection scheme and there is public land going through peoples gardens. The route hasn’t been locked down and the ownership of land is all over the place because of the flood protection scheme.’

Cllr Steven Matthews felt the wording of Cllr Fox’s amendment would have implications countywide.

‘The wording means you are introducing third party agreement onto public lands. I wouldn’t agree to a route at there ar of gardens either, and I put that on record. If that came before me as a Part 8 I wouldn’t vote for it. I see the route as going below those lands along the bank but I think it would be a dangerous precedent regarding third party agreement on pubic lands.’

Cllr Fox’s proposal was supported by 19 Councillors, with seven voting against, five not present and one abstaining.

The plan was adopted by the members after being put to the vote. Nineteen elected members voted in favour, three against, three abstained and seven were not present in the chamber.

While thanking the Planning Department for all the work they put into the plan, Cllr Joe Behan said he wouldn’t be able to vote in favour.

‘There are elements of the plan that I fundamentally disagree with, but I still want to thank the planning staff for all their hard work and assistance, but I will be voting against it.’