New network to advise on planning
- This topic has 12 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 19 years, 8 months ago by Anonymous.
-
AuthorPosts
-
-
August 27, 2004 at 4:52 am #707298Paul ClerkinKeymaster
New network to advise on planning
A helpline for those involved in planning controversies is planned by a new group which met for the first time in Roscommon this week, writes Michael O’Regan.
Kingsland, near Boyle, Co Roscommon, was the venue this week for a meeting which could have implications for those opposing planning developments throughout the State.
It had nothing to do with An Taisce or those opposed to one-off housing in rural Ireland. Indeed, the emphasis was on rural development within appropriate environmental and planning guidelines.
Those who attended live in rural Ireland and are anxious to see it develop, but they believe that a website and a helpline are essential for those involved in opposing developments which they believe to be a threat to the environment in towns and villages throughout the Republic. They hope to have both up and running shortly.
Ms Catherine Ansbro, a Boyle-based businesswoman, who helped organise the meeting, said that there were many individuals and groups who had information and experience on the issue. “We need practical ways of sharing this information. Our group is pro-development and aims to promote planning in its true sense, which is about thinking of future impact as well as the present.
“New European legislation says the public must have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in decision-making about development that affects them. This new national network is a way we can take the initiative in this process.”
She added that potential sources of funding would be explored. “Many volunteers have already indicated their desire to contribute their time and skills.”
The attendance at the meeting, in the heart of a part of the sparsely-populated Roscommon countryside was quite diverse.
Ms Bairbre Ohlig-Schaefer, a German who lives in Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim, with her husband, Joachim, said the aim was to engage a wide network of people who would need access to information when challenging what they considered to be inappropriate planning developments.
“It has become clear to us that there is a need for people to learn more about the basics of planning, particularly since the planning development act put a strict time limit on submissions.
“What I always hear is that people feel strongly that they are not getting a fair hearing in the planning process.” Ms Ohlig-Schaefer said that the building of one-off houses was only an issue for the group when they contravened the planning and environmental laws. That issue was not the motivating factor in the group coming together. “The bottom line, as far as we are concerned, is that people do not know what they have to do, or learn too late, about objecting to planning developments.”
Ms Anna Kavanagh, a schoolteacher from Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, chairperson of the steering committee, said the issues being pursued by the group had nothing to do with one-off housing.
“It is about the capacity of people to challenge planning decisions. Last year, local authorities issued 1,700 enforcement orders in cases where the planning conditions were not being adhered to, and less than a quarter were complied with.”
Mr Michael Ewing, a picture-framer based in Knockvicar, Co Roscommon, said there was a sense of helplessness among people opposing developments.
“It could be a housing development, a factory or a waste plant or whatever. For instance, in the case of an industrial plant designed over a period of three years, those objecting have five weeks to become experts. We would basically like to be the facilitators for those looking for expertise in many different areas.”
-
August 31, 2004 at 3:21 pm #745623DevinParticipant
Originally posted by Paul Clerkin
New network to advise on planningIt had nothing to do with An Taisce or those opposed to one-off housing in rural Ireland. Indeed, the emphasis was on rural development within appropriate environmental and planning guidelines.
…which is exactly what an taisce have tried to promote, if anyone cared to hear (but they only hear the stopping development…)
-
August 31, 2004 at 3:24 pm #745624Paul ClerkinKeymaster
Maybe I’m tainted by Blather.net, but the words Ansbro and Boyle sets alarm bells ringing.
http://www.blather.net/search/ice2-for.cgi?KEYWORDS=ansbro+boyle -
August 31, 2004 at 5:34 pm #745625vinnyfitzParticipant
I seem to recall Ms Ansbro presenting herself (unsuccessfully) as a candidate for the Green Party in the recent local elections in Roscommon.
-
August 31, 2004 at 5:56 pm #745626Paul ClerkinKeymaster
from
http://www.blather.net/archives3/issue3no6.html‘EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE: A REALITY’
On a very wet Saturday 18th September, while mooching about the stalls of the Dublin Food Co-op, who did we bump into but our old acquaintance Eamon Ansbro of PEIR (Programme for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Research), oft mentioned, if not criticised in this publication. We had an affable enough discourse, even though he did reassure me that there was an awful lot more to the ‘Alien Embryo’ story than meets the eye. Quite.He was flogging a new 30-page booklet, *Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A Reality*, co-written with his wife, Catherine. It seems to be a form of concise autobiography, illustrating, as Eamon told us, where he’s ‘coming from’ his background in meteorology and astronomy, and how he got involved in the whole UFO thing. In essence, it tells us where he *came from*, but not really where he’s *coming from*, going no further to explain the leaps of logic that we notice in many extraterrestrial claims, and thus leaving us none the wiser. In fact, Eamon told us that the Roy Dutton’s ‘Astronautical Theory’ is so complicated that he’s not surprised that others don’t understand it.
Astronautical Theory is the methodology used by Ansbro, and others, to ‘predict’ UFO appearances along ‘flight paths’ criss-crossing the Earth’s surface. Part 2 of *Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A Reality*, however, seems to cover new ground. Written by Catherine Ansbro – an acupuncturist, and Zero balancer – and titled *Relationship with Extraterrestrial Intelligence – A Healthy Foundation*, a short treatise on physical, environmental and spiritual well-being, an interesting departure from traditional ufology. We’ve got to admit, we did a bit of head-scratching over this bit, never before having come across ufological documentation which advises the reader on health and nutrition.
To purchase a copy of *Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A Reality* (we paid the princely sum of IEP£3.00), write to:
P.O. Box 6284
Dublin 3
Ireland -
August 31, 2004 at 6:02 pm #745627Paul ClerkinKeymaster
perhaps they want land rezoned for landing sites?
-
August 31, 2004 at 6:03 pm #745628vinnyfitzParticipant
Outstanding!
How could the good people of Roscommon have rejected an offer of such expertise? 😀
-
August 31, 2004 at 8:15 pm #745629Paul ClerkinKeymaster
Do you think that wearing aluminium foil on your head renders you immune from An Taisce?
-
August 31, 2004 at 9:57 pm #745630DevinParticipant
good memory – i dont remember this woman
-
September 1, 2004 at 10:30 am #745631FINParticipant
worth a try paul!!!!!
-
September 1, 2004 at 12:09 pm #745632AnonymousInactive
Firstly, is that person referred to in the Extra-Terrestrial piece the same person as the one mentioned before?
Secondly, Didn’t that ‘Ming’ guy get on to one of the councils in Roscommon?
-
September 1, 2004 at 12:21 pm #745633vinnyfitzParticipant
Catherine got 137 votes in Boyle being 2.38% of a quota.
Luke “Ming” topped the poll in Castlerea ward with a remarkable 1050 votes so was elected on the 1st count. (OT but does anyone know if prisoners get a vote in their district of incarceration?)
-
September 1, 2004 at 1:42 pm #745634AnonymousInactive
Thanks for that Vinnyfitz.
That is an interesting question about the prisoners.Thanks
Phil
-
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.