Developers’ delight…?
aking sense of the ever-growing planning frenzy that has descended upon Greystones,
Delgany and beyond over the past few years isn’t easy.
On the one hand, absolutely, people need houses; on the other, Wicklow County Council have come to rely very heavily on this one small patch when it comes to filling their piggybank each year.
Is there any corner of Greystones or Delgany that isn’t being built upon – or being readied to build upon – right now? And our cause hasn’t been helped by WCC management who have long looked upon Greystones as the spoilt, red-haired stepson.
Glenheron & Hawkins
It’s something that has seen developers such as Cairn Homes and that Rohan chap flooding An Bord Pleanala with applications, joining the Strategic Housing Development plans totalling almost 15,000 houses that were lodged in the first two weeks of April alone. The fast-track, fast-buck SHD process comes to a merciful end on Tuesday.
That Greystones could easily be rebranded as a city within the next decade might hit a nerve with those who still like to refer to our fast-growing town as a village.
Still, as each day brings a new site clearance or a new notice for yet another bespoke estate planning application, it’s interesting to look over a recent survey taken by the Greystones Municipal District Office. The idea being to recognise the haves and have-nots of Greystones, Delgany, Kilcoole and beyond, and whip out the latter list whenever any big moneybags comes waltzing through the door offering some glittering tit for some concrete tat.
In the introduction to the study findings, the creators outline the background and aims as:
Background
Need to assess the current state of recreation in the district and identify future needs and priority areas.
To set a point of reference that will inform future planning, resource allocations and partnership discussions.
In this study, ‘Recreation’ means a variety of pursuits and the experience that results from freely chosen participation in physical, social, intellectual, creative and spiritual pursuits that enhance individual and community wellbeing.
Aims of the study
To analyse the existing recreation, leisure and sports facilities in the area.
Facilitate future strategic direction to support the appropriate provision of recreation, leisure and sports facilities.
To provide a framework that will allow stakeholders to work together to match facilities with a growing population.
That management practices and the quality of facilities will best serve everyone in the community.
That the location of future facilities will be informed and identified through consideration of the existing gaps in provision and the projected population growth.
To determine recreational priorities for the district and lead to the development of equitable, accessible sport and recreational opportunities for all.
Improve the health, wellbeing and overall quality of those who live and work in the district as well as those who visit.
The surveys were conducted through ‘in-depth questionnaires’ circulated online via Survey Monkey, as well as offline with local residents plus sports and community organisations.
And those all-important findings are:
Greystones Urban Settlement has 50% of the population of the Greystones Municipal District but almost two thirds of the recreational and sporting facilities.
Delgany has 20% of the population, but less than 3% of facilities.
Feedback from Kilcoole, Newcastle and Newtown show dissatisfaction with the number of facilities but they are consistent with the population in these settlements.
Kilcoole MAR22