Wording on Bremore strikes right balance
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DESPITE a failed attempt to amend it, the council is happy with the wording in the new development plan in relation to the possible development of deep water port at Bremore in Balbriggan. County planners said the new plan seeks to encourage any employment and economic development opportunities that might accrue from the port development while at the same time, seek to protect the area's heritage and archaeology.
Cllr Clare Daly (SP) attempted to pass an amendment that would have rebalanced the objective in the new draft plan in favour of protecting local archaeology first. Cllr May McKeon (NP) said the council's first consideration had to be the creation of jobs and after that she was sure that special attention would be paid by the experts to protecting the heritage and archaeology of the area.
Cllr Tom O'Leary (FG) said would not be in favour of changing the wording in the plan and said he was 'anxious to encourage employment opportunities in the Balbriggan area while at the same time, protecting archaeology. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Ciaran Byrne (Lab), agreed.
The council's planning department said it was satisfied that the existing wording struck the right balance and had already been adopted by councillors in October.
In the main, councillors agreed that the existing wording gave adequate protection to the area's heritage and Cllr Daly's motion to amend the objective was defeated by a large majority.
- John MANNING
