Buffer zone gets cool reception

It is now clear there is considerable opposition in the wider Tara-Skryne area to the proposal by Meath County Council to impose new restrictions through a landscape conservation plan there, with implications that could see planning permission for buildings and structures curtailed within a five-kilometre buffer zone. This week has seen the deadline for submissions to the council plan but a public meeting in Skryne last week attended by some 250 local people, a show of hands decisively demonstrated that a strong majority of locals are implacably opposed to the proposals. Local politicians are also questioning why the area encompassing the restricted area is so large and have asked that the council consider revising the footprint affected. Serious reservations have been expressed by local people and public representatives from different political parties about the effects of the draft proposal that is set to go before a meeting of Meath County Council for adoption or rejection next month. The plan has been on public display for several weeks and is believed to have attracted many submissions from locals, concerned in particular about the implications of tighter planning restrictions that could apply within this 5km zone. Opponents have expressed fears that even everyday paraphernalia such as TV satellite dishes and antennae to receive a broadband signal could be outlawed under these new restrictions and that even the tradition of landowners giving a site to an offspring to build a house could be impacted if overly limiting planning laws were to be passed which would apply to this area of County Meath, which supports a sizeable population living mostly in one-off rural housing. One local councillor has already claimed, at the public meeting in Skryne, that the county council's planning department is already operating as if the new rules are in place by referring one-off rural housing planning applications in districts within the zone to the Dept of the Environment & Local Government. Groups and individuals who support the plan say it will strengthen the protection of a uniquely historic area, assist sustainable development and protection of the rural environment and help attract greater numbers of tourists to Meath which will, in turn, bring benefits to the county. There have been accusations that some local public representatives have been stoking fears about the consequences of the plan. "Wild and emotive language" is being used to frighten people, according to respected local heritage campaigner Julitta Clancy in a letter to this newspaper this week. Differing interpretations are being taken by different people, as is often the case in controversies of this nature, but local people have a right to know exactly what the implications of these changes are for them. It is as yet unclear what type of curbs in relation to rural housing planning applciations people can expect if these new rules are passed by Meath's councillors, although it would appear that there are restrictions on additional farm buildings, for instance, as well as appendages such as satellite dishes and other antennae. Questions also need to be asked in relation to the size of the restriction area as many have been surprised that such a wide swathe of land has been included in the zone. It cannot be denied that there is considerable fear and anxiety among local residents in the Tara-Skryne area about what this means for them and their futures, and a full, open and honest debate needs to take place between now and July on what benefits this plan will bring to the area and precisely what type of restrictions residents affected can expect in relation to issues such as planning permissions and exempted developments. As it is, it looks like Meath's councillors could yet vote down the proposal in July but Environment Minister John Gormley may, at that stage, step in and overrule them. One way or the other, this is going to remain a hot topic for the rest of the summer.