Volume 2
24.05.2022
Ardclough Community Council Submission re Kildare County Council Draft Development Plan 2023-2029.
On behalf of Ardclough Community Council I would like to make the following observations in relation to the Development Plan, as it applies to Ardclough.
Let me begin by saying that the map ref. V2-4.2 recognises neither the actual original settlement of Ardclough or the “community” of Ardclough. It recognises settlements in Wheatfield and Tipperstown and Lyons. Those of us who live in Ardclough know that the real community of Ardclough extends far beyond these parameters. It most certainly includes the areas of Clonaghlis and the Boston Road, as well as the original settlement area of Ardclough on the banks of the Grand Canal. It would also include the road to Straffan as far as Clownings and the Wheatfield Cottages and the area on the Celbridge Road to the Railway Bridge.
My second point relates to a general principle of planning to which planners in Kildare Co. Council have subscribed for many years. That is, the notion of “developer/large development” led expansion in rural communities like Ardclough. They seem to have abandoned the idea that small communities are essentially “family” based, and the retention of generations of families , with all of the inherent positive support for family members, young and old being retained within communities. Of course this is not to the exclusion of welcoming new members, through well planned and appropriate small developments. There seems to be a complete absence of an understanding of the absolute necessity for generational continuity in our villages and rural areas in the Leadership of Kildare Co. Council, as reflected in the planning decisions in this area for many years, particularly in relation to one off housing, sometimes even on the applicants’ own land.
I note that in the plan for 2023-2029, it is specifically stated that the above needs are being addressed by “serviced sites”. This simply lends greater weight to the assertion above that we are now in the era of “developer/development” led policies in Kildare Co. Council. These sites come at an astronomical price because of the cost the developer has had to incur to make them serviceable, placing them out of the reach of most, if not all local members of our community, struggling to provide a home for themselves, in the place where they were born, reared and want to live. This in turn causes these people to have to move to other towns/villages further away from their families to be replaced by people from other parts of the county/country with more money who can afford these expensive serviced sites. And of course the young people very often do not qualify for any social and affordable housing, where it exists. Your assertion in the Plan that the provision of “serviced sites” would “attract people to build their own homes” is not true in relation to members of the communities in which these sites are provided and does not replace the need for one off housing completely. Furthermore, it does not absolve the Local Authority of its moral responsibility to provide appropriate housing for members of local communities.
Ardclough Community Council does not subscribe to this model of planning for this area. Rather we believe in a flexible model of development, with a combination of one off and small group developments which do not impinge on local infrastructure or resources. We also believe that planning and development plans should be guided by social, moral and humane principles, taking into account the unique nature of our rural communities and the need to protect generational continuity, thereby enabling communities maintain their rich family and community heritage. Surely, the aim of any development plan for an area should be to preserve the “core” of that community. Instead, in my thirty years in this community, and as a former Principal of the local Primary School, I have witnessed the complete dismantling of the families I worked with, because of the failure of Kildare Co. Council to address the housing needs of the young people involved. Many have had to move away because of affordability, and because of the lack of social and affordable housing. This has had an enormous impact on all aspects of life in this community. At one stage, it appeared that Ardclough would become a “village for the retired”. The Council has a responsibility to plan in such a way as to allow for young people to live in their own community, if they choose to do so, and to allow older members of the community to live out their lives in dignity, with the support and care of family and neighbours. Many older people end up in care simply because they do not have the supports to live independently at home. This care often comes at a great cost to the State. Communities and families are fractured and damaged when or social planning is missing essential ingredients.
There is no mention of the community dividend of three acres which was conditioned in the planning permission for the current development at William’s Grove. This has yet to be delivered to the Community. The Community greatly needs this land to enhance the recreational and sporting facilities available. It is noted that the new lands identified for “expansion” is adjacent to the present development. Any such expansion would pose serious problems for the local community. There is no mention in the Plan for improvements to the water supply or drainage system. There is no proposal in the Plan for parking for the Greenway Project, which will also impinge on our Community. Any permission to develop the lands newly zoned should include a substantial contribution of land to the GAA Club to allow them develop their facilities. As this is the main recreational facility in the area for families.
Similarly, the national school is currently at full capacity and provision needs to be put in place that the school can expand accordingly without being boxed in with housing.
We wish to assert unlike villages and towns close by we do not want the type of development that crowds out the space for human activity, where the developers needs were given priority over the needs of the local community.
Ardclough Community Council would respectfully ask that you review your plans for this area in the light of the above.
I remain yours,
Raymond King, Chairperson of Ardclough Community Council.