Controversy over public consultation on port plans
CONFUSION OVER WHEREABOUTS OF PROPOSAL IN STATION
The dead porpoise found on the beach at Laytown.
CONTROVERSY is still raging over the validity of the public consultation procedures in relation to proposals for the alterations of the harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company at the proposed new deep water port of Bremore.
The plans should have been freely available for public viewing at the front office of Drogheda Garda station for a period of 21 days, but the Drogheda Independent has been contacted by a number of people who said the gardaí were either unaware of what was being asked for, or people could only view the proposals in a private room and in the presence of several gardaí.
They were also not allowed to photocopy or photograph the plans.
When this reporter went to view the plans, there was initial confusion as to the whereabouts of the folder, and it was thought they had been sent back to get the time extended.
However, it transpired they had been moved to a different location within the station.
'It is outrageous that these plans were not in a library in Balbriggan, or somewhere like a planning office more accessible to the general public,' says Dr Mark Clinton, a Howth-based archaeological consultant for An Taisce.
' When you see the advertisements that were placed in the Drogheda Independent, you would not think there was any connection to Bremore as it just mentions 'alterations of the harbour limits of Drogheda Port Company'.
'However, this actually proposes to put a great big harbour in a beautiful part of north County Dublin, and I'm sure if people knew about it, they would be interested to see if it affects them.'
It took Dr Clinton three attempts to get to see the plans, and he says he wasn't personally intimidated by the surroundings of the garda station, but he has spoken to some who were.
'Asking for the Superintendent's office is a big deal to some people, and I can't see why they needed to be kept there,' says Dr Clinton.
'I actually think the gardaí have many more important things to be doing, and it is outrageous these proposals weren't on show in a library or other more public building.'
- Alison COMYN
