Petition to rezone Dargle floodplane
MEMBERS of the group ‘SWAP’ (Safety with Alternative Plan) have created a petition in relation to a floodplain on the old golf links in Bray.
As the Local Area Plan for Bray & Environs is to be finalised shortly, they want the lands rezoned as Open Space.
Submissions can be made on the draft area plan until Friday, September 15.
More than 700 people had signed the change.org online petition at the time of going to print.
‘What we are fighting for is really topical at the moment because of the events in Donegal, Texas, India and Bangladesh, and also because of the 2017 Local Area Plan. Also, Pizarro Developments went into receivership last April, with planning permission still valid on that floodplain until 2020,’ said the group.
They made a submission to the draft plan, asking that 3.48 hectares be returned to Open Space zoning, but it was dismissed.
They are now in the process of making another submission to the LAP, to be voted on by the 32 county councillors.
They have also asked to be allowed to make a presentation to all 32 county councillors, having made a presentation to the Bray members last October.
SWAP said that they have been promised a meeting with the receiver when all of Pizarro’s assets have been examined and they are asking for the state to purchase the corridor of low-lying floodplain along the Dargle River, to retain it as a linear park and playing fields.
‘We are a close-knit community, with a high percentage of elderly and disabled people, who have lived through several major floods in Little Bray, County Wicklow. Yet, in 2005, the 8.6 acre floodplain that lies between us and the sea – which took those floods from our homes – was zoned for high density building,’ said SWAP.
Planning permission was granted to Pizarro in 2010 to build a new town centre.
In 2012, flood defence works were commenced along the river at a cost of over €40m.
‘We are very grateful for them – but flood defences can fail. If they do, we will need our floodplain more than ever to take away the flood waters that will then be on our side of the defence walls,’ said SWAP.
‘Our 12 year campaign to stop development on this floodplain has now one last chance to succeed.
The draft local area plan is available at Bray Municipal District offices, Civic Centre, Bray, Wicklow County Council buildings, public libraries at Eglinton Road and Boghall Road, and on Wicklow.ie.
Submissions can be made in writing to Administrative Officer, Planning Section, Wicklow County Council, Station Road, Wicklow Town, or by email to planreview@wicklowcoco.ie.