Munster Express Online

In view of the remuneration figures paid to County Councillors, being published last week I would like to pose the question, are we getting value for money?

On the 29th April 2008 I personally wrote a letter on behalf of the Garrarus and District Concerned Residents ( G.D.C.R. ) to all 23 County Councillors, outlining our genuine concerns at the development of a hotel, 171 houses and a golf course at Garrarus and Kilfarassay. I also asked them if they would reply and let me know how they would represent our concerns, so that I could inform our members.

To date, which is 3 months later I have received only 2 of what could at best be described as acknowledgments. Twenty-one County Councillors chose to ignore the letter. I would have thought it was common courtesy for an elected representative to reply to any correspondence from their electorate. If I were to write to An Taoiseach or the President I would at least get a reply. Why are the County Councillors who we elected and will perhaps elect again next year, being so rude to us? What is their agenda?

I would like to explain to your readers that the Garrarus and District Concerned Residents is a group of residents of Garrarus, Kilfarrasay and surrounding areas, who have very genuine concerns at the negative impact this development would have on our quality of life, our beautiful coastline, our beaches, our national heritage, and our biodiversity. Our membership now stands at over 300 people, and it is growing steadily.

We are not a group of radicals or protestors. Our group is made up of residents of the area, neighbours and friends who happen to love dearly the place where we live, and which we believe is there for everyone to enjoy. Not merely for a select few, who have the means and it seems the influence to cordon off the most beautiful part of our coastline for their own use, and profit.

I would also like to inform your readers that we are not alone in opposing this development. The Dept. of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, An Taisce, Birdwatch Ireland, Irish Wildlife Trust, Coastwatch Ireland, Friends of The Environment, Southern Fisheries Board, have all objected to this development.

This is not a situation any of us ever wanted to find ourselves in, and we certainly do not enjoy it. We would much prefer to be left to live our lives peacefully and anonymously in this special place we call home, but we feel we are left with no choice but to take a stand to protect our quality of life and our beautiful coastline, as our county councillors have failed to acknowledge or represent us in this matter.

We believe that our County Councillors and Waterford County Council have done the people of County Waterford a grave disservice by passing a variation to the County Development Plan, which allows developments as environmentally damaging as this be considered for planning. Planning for developments such as this can now be applied for, on any part of our coastline or places of special scenic beauty. Waterford County Council should be working to protect these areas, yet they seem to be encouraging developers to build on them at pre planning meetings.

If our County Councillors were doing the job they are paid to do, which is to represent their electorate, then it would not be left to the ordinary residents of an area to have to go to such lengths and expense just to protect their way of life and the area they live in.

Sir, as for the question I posed at the top of this letter, are we getting value for money? I will let your readers make up their own minds, but I think they will understand that in this particular case, I certainly do not believe that we are.

Yours Sincerely