Murphy Makes Submission on the Maynooth Local Area Plan & Encourages Interested Parties to Do Likewise

Press Release & Submission Document 5th September 2011

05September2011 Maynooth LAP Pre Draft Submission – Catherine Murphy TD

Deputy Catherine Murphy has today submitted a Pre-Draft submission on the proposed Maynooth Local Area Plan which is set to shape the development of the town for the next decade. 

Murphy, who has a strong interest in planning & development, highlighted the urgent need for all interested parties to engage with the process of developing this LAP in order that the fingerprints of the community can be seen on the final product.  Although the deadline for Pre-Draft Submissions is 6th September 2011, further ideas can be submitted at later stages and the North Kildare TD is advising those who have missed this deadline to watch out for later opportunities.

While it can be laborious at times it’s just so vital that people feel they’ve had a say in the direction in which their town moves.   For all its faults, the Irish planning system does allow for input when it comes to the development of Local and County Development Plans but many people can feel daunted by the prospect of making a submission and often leave it to “someone else”.  My advice is to take the plunge if there’s an aspect of the town’s development you’d like to see emphasised or changed as it’s too late when the plan is complete. I feel it’s particularly important for local and national representatives to make submissions on these plans as we’re put here to keep an eye on matters like these so I do what I can to ensure I do just that.

Murphy’s submission, which can be viewed in full on her website www.catherinemurphy.ie, features several sections but can largely be boiled down to one message; Sustainable and Focused Development.

Well, in my submission I’ve addressed issues like the continued need for a community centre for the town to act as a central focus for community activities; I’ve highlighted the importance of focusing on the long-term residents of the town as opposed to placing an over-emphasis on the transient student population; I’ve noted the current problem of mortgage indebtedness and negative equity which is likely to shape the way in which the population develops, particularly in areas where growing families are stuck in small apartments; and I’ve stated the need to consider the town’s commercial and industrial development in the context of the proposed retail development at Collinstown and the already operational business campus along with various other issues.

The North Kildare TD concluded in stating that this is not the final but rather the introductory stage of developing the town’s Local Area Plan so for those who missed the deadline on the pre-draft submission date further opportunities will arise over the coming months and a watchful eye should be kept on www.kildarecoco.ie, www.catherinemurphy.ie and the local papers.

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Posted by admin on September 5, 2011. Filed under Maynooth. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry