Madam, – I have been reluctant to respond to the naïve, cheap and silly letters regarding the rejection by An Bord Pleanála of Seán Dunne’s proposals for the Jury’s/Berkeley Court sites.
The number of references to “well-heeled residents” and “leafy suburbs” became boring after a while.
However the comments from Charles Mooney (February 9th) went beyond those petty remarks. As the only city councillor elected for the area and still on the council, I made no “triumphant comments” regarding the decision. I welcomed it as the right planning decision and immediately confirmed my willingness – indeed my commitment – to sitting down and working with all the various interests to see if progress could be made.
An Bord Pleanála refused permission because the application was inconsistent with the City Development Plan. That is the point I and others have made repeatedly over the past few years. If change is needed to that plan, it can be made through the normal democratic process.
Many of my neighbours and constituents work – or, more accurately, did work – in the construction sector. To suggest complacency on my part about their livelihoods and their futures is unacceptable.
I want to see increasing opportunities for development, employment and economic growth in our City. A transparent, accountable, agreed planning framework is essential to that. The decision by An Bord Pleanála helped to give us such clarity and the people who voluntarily spent their time and money to achieve that for the benefit of the people of Dublin should be applauded, not demonised. – Yours, etc,
Cllr DERMOT LACEY,
Beech Hill Drive,
Donnybrook,
Dublin 4.