13th November 2001

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY CRITICIZES ‘TOWN-CRAMMING’ IN BLACKROCK

The Green Party has called for a major planning application in Blackrock to be refused Planning Permission by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council. The scheme intends to provide 286 bed-spaces in a development at Temple Crescent Blackrock. The applicant is ‘Temple Bar Hall of Residents Ltd.’ The new buildings are located beside an existing Protected Structure known as ‘Neptune House’

“Of course we need more housing,” stated Councillor Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party, “but not at any cost. This is an example of ‘town-cramming’ where the Developer is trying to cram too much development onto the one site. We are asking for this Planning Application to be refused.

“This development would increase traffic problems, would involve the felling of most of the trees on the site, and would detract from the Protected Structure of Neptune House.

“The Application does not contain an Environmental Impact Statement, and yet it proposes parking for 133 cars on the site. It also removes the existing tennis court, and the only recreational facility provided is communal TV rooms for the proposed residents. This represents ‘lowest-common denominator’ planning and should be refused.”

ENDS

For further information contact:

Ciarán Cuffe, Dáil Candidate   087 265 2075 or 618 3082