Myself and my husband are long-term residents in Howth. We have reared our family here and are committed Volunteers in these local Groups:-
*Howth Sutton Community Council
*Howth Pathways
*Howth Sutton District Community Council Clg
*Howth Tidy Towns
*Friends of Balscadden Beach
We attend all Consultations & make submissions on all developments which, since the introduction of The undemocratic SHD Policy,not only disgracefully threaten the sustainabilty of the lifestyles of present and future local residents,but also the unique beauty and biodiversity of this Peninsula which receives more visitors annually than Kerry.
We request that The Howth Sutton Peninsula be considered as a whole area in this Development Plan.The consideration of one area without the other is causing a confusing disconnect at all levels of our Peninsula Community when reading through the considerable content of this 2023-29 Development Plan
We have experienced the benefits of living in a warm cohesive community, so it is natural for us to give back as Volunteers.
Quite simply-we the residents don't need a vision for our beautiful area.So the County Development Planners, and all its associated guiding bodies-NPF,RSES etc.,....plus of course the recent opportunist slick, Tetrarch Capital Brochure, need to enhance very little on iconic Howth Peninsula.We,the Volunteers-we are that vision already in action, as we keep a keen eye on all aspects of our vibrant historical village community - conserving,cleaning & planting the heart of the historic village & surrounds,clearing the seafront and beaches of rubbish & graffiti,maintaining the Loop Paths,removing alien species, working withthe ecosystems we now know firsthand as well as writing multiple submiisions to prevent greedy developers overdeveloping and destroying this 'jewel' of North County Dublin.
Elected members must at all times represent its citizens so our communities' voices are are included in any decision made about the area in which we have lived,worked and reared our families for decades.Unfortunately Local Councillors were denied a voice to represent us since 2017 re appropriate development.Listen to our local councillors and the TD who lives in Howth-they are fully aware of the threat to Our Peninsula Community.
A 'Vision' put forward in a Development Plan is but words, but words never ensure delivery of actions which enhance communities. However, we the citizens of Fingal, read the following words in this introduction hoping this 'plan' will be honoured by those who have the responsibilty of making decisions:-
"Plan seeks healthy place-making at its heart"
A country is the sum of each locality-each locality is a community-each community has many heartbeats.
We welcome the positive aims of
*Project Ireland 1940
*NPF
*RSES
each of which seeks to provide for the very best of lives for the citizens of Ireland.
However the shared common language in all the above,in tandem with similar language reflected directly in Developers' brochures must not be allowed to be appropriated in such a misleading insincere manner which denies the actual reality experienced by citizens about the area in which they live.This appropriation of language badly disguises the insulting marketing ploy of the developer to make more profits from inappropriately scaled developments. These developments are being submitted at the expense of locals' accustomed lifestyles and most disgracefully, seek in their current submissions to get our amenity land rezoned. This must be opposed as a dangerous precedent will be set.
Elected members must have actual on-the-ground awareness of the towns and villages they are mapping and discussing, otherwise our towns and villages are at the mercy of secondhand policy-ticking exercises-despite cleverly worded vision statements.