Labour fights to protect Wicklow with ACA
Issued : Monday 9 March, 2009
Labour Councillors Conal Kavanagh and Mayor John O'Brien led the way to protect Wicklow's Built Heritage by introducing an Architectural Conservation Area.
The A.C.A identified both Main Street and Abbey Street as areas which defined the town's character. This A.C.A would have ensured that the Town Council through its Town Plan would have to protect the tradition and character of the centre by encouraging a better standard of architectural design for any new developments.
Cllr Conal Kavanagh said that "new developments ought to be in some way sympathetic to the buildings around them and retain the best of the past. Wicklow already has too many examples of substandard design which nobody likes and some of which were only built in recent years." Cllr John O'Brien stated that " Councillors frequently complain about the planners giving permission for poor quality developments. The ACA was a chance to encourage officials and architects to come up with better quality design. Unfortunately, most councillors passed on this great opportunity." At the February Town Council meeting, the ACA was proposed by Kavanagh and O'Brien but was defeated by 4 votes to 3. Fianna Fail and the Independents opposed it completely while Fine Gael split on the issue. Sinn Fein were absent while the Greens did not even send in a submission to the public consultation exercise. Wicklow Town Council Officials had warmly endorsed the proposal but most councillors ignored this expert advice.
Conal Kavanagh said that "many bogus arguments were made opposing the proposal including the economic impact. We have no ACA at the moment but the major negative factor on the Main Street is excessive rents and this is what needs to be tackled." Labour will ensure that the ACA proposal and the well being of Wicklow's main shopping area will both be issues in the forthcoming Town Council Elections.
Cllr 
