An article on Independent.ie just made me aware about the return of a planning application for 219 homes on Kilgarron Hill. The application was one of those that gave rise to the public meeting organised by @SaveEnniskerry earlier in January.
A related, community funded appeal was lodged at the time. Yet here we are again?
In the rural environment we are located, equipped with insufficient public transport, households are dependent on cars. This planning application adds roughly 430 additional cars to the village - and they will have no other choice but to traverse "our" crossing to get to/from their homes - twice a day on average.
I am worried that we may not get a chance to experience this in the first place: The HGV's that will need to pass by our house first to deliver all the construction material will likely ensure that our residence will become uninhabitable by the time our new neighbours take up residence. Unless traffic situation and road condition in the village are being taken care of, they will be the doom for an increasing number of heritage structures. Let's just hope we don't happen to be in our home when it collapses.
One fails to fathom how problems alike can emerge in a developed country, especially when the solution is so simple and obvious: Either ensure smooth road surfaces or force traffic to traverse the heart of the village at appropriate (walking) speed. Or - may I dare to say - consider both?
Proposals for major developments cannot be considered until current infrastructure issues have been resolved and the infrastructure has been upgraded with the ability to cope with increase in demand. The traffic situation is only the tip of the iceberg. Freshwater, sewage, electricity and telco - just to name a few - are already (over)stretched in the village as well. Should financing or logistics to resolve these challenges be an issue, then put the onus to resolve them on the developer seeking planning permission and make them prerequisite to commencement of housing development.
Don't get me wrong, I not only understand that there is need for more homes, I am aware that we may be in need of one ourselves one day: We love our residence - and we want to get old here if we can. Still we are tenants and with retirement slowly coming into sight, the uncertainty and psychological pressure that come with being a lifelong tenant is an increasing concern.
How high a price are we prepared to pay for additional housing? Is it worth personal injury? Is it worth threatening peoples lives and a cultural heritage that is testament to the history of a beautiful nation and her people. Why would we even consider such cost when it is completely unnecessary in the first place?
Rant out