Doctor’s bid to save his village ..by going viral
120,000 people get behind letter to minister
A POPULAR GP has issued a plea to the Government in a bid to save his village from “total destruction”.
Dr Vincent Walsh wrote to Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and his Minister of State Damien English and posted the letter on Facebook – attracting more than 12,000 likes.
He and others warn the Kildare town of Celbridge where Arthur Guinness was born will be ruined “as if an atomic bomb fell on it” if plans to build a new town centre across the River Liffey go ahead.
Dr Walsh,74, told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I thought I’d get a few hundred reactions at most but we’d 4,000 within a day and it hasn’t stopped since.
“I’m a Celbridge man born and bred. My whole life has been invested on Main Street here. I was born in this house, the district nurse, Nurse Gaffney, delivered me.
“My practice has been based here since 1976 and I live above it. If that land is built on there will be a lot of people in Celbridge upset, brokenhearted even.”
National heritage body An Taisce last week came out in support of Kildare county councillors who voted against plans to extend the town centre across the river.
They want open space at Donaghcumper estate protected, but Minister English says he may use his powers to push through the project for 150 houses, shops and offices despite 2,300 submissions opposing it.
In his letter Dr Walsh warns the site fronting on to historic Castletown House is a protected structure and any development would be “unduly close to the River Liffey”. He added: “Celbridge village and Main Street will be destroyed by this development as if an atomic bomb fell on it. “The shops will close down, the houses will go into disrepair and become derelict.” Dr Walsh warned wildlife including owls, otters and cranes will be wiped out. He said: “It will be almost like a death in the family.”
If that land is built on, there will be a lot of people upset, brokenhearted even DR VINCENT WALSH ON HIS FEARS FOR CELBRIDGE TOWN