People in Tara valley zone don't want new plan: Jamal

Navan Area Fine Gael councillor Suzanne Jamal has said that her party colleagues are fully behind her in expressing concerns over the proposed Tara/Skryne Conservation Area plan which is to come before councillors at their July meeting next Monday. Cllr Jamal said she has not changed her position on the plan. "I do not want to send a wrong message and wish to make it clear that I am not against the principle behind the plan to enhance tourism and protect the heritage of Tara/Skryne valley. I was initially as much excited about this plan as my colleagues in Meath Archaeological and Historical Society and a small number of people in the area who support the plan," Cllr Jamal said. "However, as a result of my consultation with the people living in Tara/Skryne and a 5km radius of extended area included in the plan, I had to look into the concerns expressed by people as I am the local representative in this area and they are reliant on my support. I have no intention of letting them down and I will be looking for support from all my council colleagues across the parties on this issue," she added. Cllr Jamal said her first and foremost reason to oppose the plan in its present form is that the majority of people in this area do not trust that this plan will not affect them and their families and are not ready to accept any assurances given by the council that planning for one-off rural housing will not be affected and that they will not be stopped erecting a glasshouse in their garden or a small extension for their expanding families, even though it is clearly written that planning regulations for one-off housing under the plan remain unchanged. "When it comes to farming, additional farm buildings are important for the survival of the farming community in the area who are already under pressure in the last few years," Cllr Jamal said. "Some 95 per cent of people have genuine concerns and do not want this plan to go ahead in its present form and I have a duty to the people that I convey their concerns and reasons for opposing this plan," she said. Cllr Jamal, from Kentstown, close to the affected area, said the other major drawback in this plan is the extent of the area which is included, stretching from Bective to Walterstown. "Preserving the Hill of Tara and Skryne is not to be disputed, but going too far is what I feel is unreasonable. There is a very strong message coming from the area. I am not into the business of scaremongering and I am willing to contribute to any discussions on the issue in a positive manner, but if the curtilage stays as extreme and people are not given substantial gurantees, I have no choice but to stay with the wishes of the majority of people who are asking me to oppose this plan as they feel that it will be very restrictive in terms of meeting their needs and they fear will cause them to move out of their homeland to urban areas," the FG cllr said. Meath East Fianna Fail TD Mary Wallace has lodged a formal objection with Meath County Council on the proposed landscape plan following the significant opposition of the plan by the large number of people who attended a recent Fianna Fail information meeting in Skryne on the plan. She said that the de-exemptions were of substantial concern, as were developments and structures that were previously exempt from planning permission that will now require planning permission. "This local rural community is concerned regarding the future sustainability of their rural area with a lack of development to maintain a rural community due to planning restrictions. In effect, these concerns centre around planning applications being referred to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and effective sterilisation of the area," the TD added. "The concern is also that the social fabric of the local community would be decimated by forcing young people to live elsewhere, due to planning restrictions and schools, community groups and local clubs, intrinsic to a growing and vibrant community would suffer greatly." The conclusion of over 200 residents who attended the information meeting was very clear, she added. "They unanimously called on Meath County Council to abandon this proposal and they called on the members of Meath County Council to vote against this proposal when it comes before them for decision on 5th July."