Sir, - Carton Avenue, leading from Carton House and demesne, "the seat of the Fitzgerald family", has been in existence since 1750. The avenue is aligned with the main street of Maynooth, extending to the western end of the town occupied since 1795 by Maynooth College.
In 1981, Carton Avenue was given as a public amenity in the care of Kildare County Council by the then owner, the Hon David Nall Cain. The avenue has been preserved because of its inherent value to the community. This value is recognised by the council on the basis of the heritage it represents.
In its draft development plan 1995/96, the council has listed the avenue as "an item for preservation of international interest". In relation to items for preservation it is the stated objective of the council "to preserve their environs and setting and . . . to preserve views and prospects of these items". In line with this policy, the council has designated the lands at each side of the avenue, comprising 118 acres, as a green belt. These lands, which are privately owned, are entirely hounded by the public road system.
At a full council meeting held on March 7th, the Kildare County Council, on a vote of 18 to four, decided to relegate these designated green acres for housing and industrial development. Opposition to this intrusive development has been voiced by a cross section of the people of. Maynooth, and a group has been formed with the express purpose of seeking to have this ill considered draft re zoning proposal of the councillors reversed.
Carton Avenue and the heritage it represents has been closely linked, through the Geraldine connection, to the history of Ireland over the centuries. This fine linear park with its lines of mature lime trees is used by the population of Maynooth (which has expanded to 9,000 residents) together with the staff and students of Maynooth College, by people from other parts of Ireland and by visitors from abroad.
The future of the avenue is a larger than local concern, not only because of its antiquity and history, but because of the larger planning and conservation issues that have become paramount to the preservation of this precious public amenity. It is essential that the green belt be kept intact, in order to protect the visual amenity and the environs and setting of Carton Avenue. - Yours, etc.,
Railpark,
Maynooth,
Co Kildare.