JOHN HEARN,
Sir, - S.C. Bleakly and D. W. R. O'Brien's letter (May 29th) expressed the view that "once again our heritage is being sacrificed to over-development and wanton greed" and the "it may be too late for the Malahide Casino".
I would like to assure them and your other readers that it is not too late to save the casino and its sylvan setting, providing that those who care stand up and be counted.
The Malahide Community Form - the organisation representing residents' associations in Malahide - is determined to see that both the spirit and the letter of the new Planning Act's provisions to safeguard our heritage are respected.
Our a.g.m. last Monday passed a resolution condemning the proposed development, since we regard the Casino as the "jewel in the crown" of our village. The casino is a 17th-century thatched cottage, in good internal repair, and virtually unique in that it has been lived in continuously until now. It is set in a small park with many attractive trees.
We are realistic enough to recognise that some development so near to the centre of the village and the railway station is likely to take place. But it is essential that the Casino itself, and its immediate surroundings, be preserved for future generations.
Developments of a reasonable height (say two storeys), well back from the cottage, would be quite acceptable. But the current proposal includes five blocks of flats, the largest of which is five storeys high with a second (immediately behind the cottage as seen from the Dublin Road), of four storeys. This second block would totally dominate the view of the cottage from the road.
So far the planning decisions lie with Fingal County Council and we hope it will reject the current proposal. But we have started to raise money for a fighting fund, on the assumption that this development will need to be appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Yours, etc.,
JOHN HEARN,
Honorary Secretary,
Malahide Community Forum,
Malahide, Co Dublin.