New planning project to roll out nationwide – starts in North Tipperary on 13th October 2009
The idea behind this project which we are rolling out round the country, on a county by county basis as development plans come up for review, is that many people may have issues that they wish to comment on in their plan, but they may feel that they do not understand the process, or that they do not have the technical knowledge or even the time to make a submission. As North Tipp is the first county to have its plan reviewed since the project commenced we are starting there. We are calling a preliminary public meeting on the 13th October in Nenagh to gather together a number of interested people and organisations, to assess the level of understanding and to deliver some preliminary introductory training. We are hoping that in the days after the meeting we will start to communicate by email with small groups of people and organisations who are interested in particular issues to develop a submission on the review of the plan which will form the basis of the An Taisce submission. People will also be free to make their own submissions based on the information gained at the meeting.
Gavin Daly, an experienced professional planner, is working on this project and will be providing the technical background and will be bringing all the issues together into a coherent whole. It is hoped that by breaking down the plan into bite size pieces and using electronic communications people will be able to take on as little or as much as they feel they can handle and actually have their voices heard.
We are also using this project to develop web-based tools including an easy to use best-practice guide, which will be available for people to put together their submissions and influence the future of their place.
We do hope that if you live in North Tipp you can attend this initial meeting and also spread this information around your friends, colleagues and any organisations that you feel may have a view about the future of the heritage, culture and environment of North Tipperary.
Other counties will follow with South County Dublin, and Wicklow hot on the heels of Tipperary.