Verona Murphy TD has expressed her concerns with the potential consequences of the new draft county development plan when it comes to planning matters.

Commenting today on the front page of the Wexford People detailing the proposed high density development at the site of the old Loreto School, Spawell Road, Independent Deputy Verona Murphy has said:

“Current Government planning policy and that proposed by the County Manager at Wexford County Council, endorses this type of high density ghettoised development. Provision has been made for this in the new draft county development plan by the insertion of minimum densities by the County Manager. I have been working on this at national level as an Oireachtas member and it has been confirmed by the Minister in a circular to the local authorities, that these minimum densities as envisaged by the Planning Regulator & the County Manager and Wexford County Council, do not exist.”

Speaking from Leinster House, the Deputy continued “This proposed planning application makes it very plain to the people of Wexford town what high density development now means. This development contravenes the current County Development Plan. This development is inappropriate and will not be in compliance with the current development plan for a number of reasons. It will however be in compliance with the new draft County Development plan, the new development plan that is proposed would enable this development to get permission and proceed with or without objection”.

Deputy Murphy continued “The County Councillor’s that the people of Wexford elected have an obligation to those people of Wexford, they must ensure that these types of ghetto’s do not get off the ground.  It is not fair to the marginalised people who will ultimately be forced to occupy them. People who require social housing should not be pressured into high density ghettoised settings. We do urgently require social housing, and the provision of such should be distributed amongst all of the new developments being built”.

The Independent TD concluded “The Councillors of County Wexford must now move immediately to amend the draft County Development Plan to exercise their statutory powers, conferred upon them by law, to ensure that we have proper and sustainable development of our towns. The electorate will not reward them if they refuse to do so.”