Letter to the Editor

Letter regarding controversy over Colonel's Wood

 33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Co. Mayo

 

January 23, 2010

 

Dear Editor,

 

I would like to add my voice and support to the campaign against the building of a nursing home in Colonel's Wood.

Anyone who will have studied the plans, as I have, and taken them into the context of the wood's location, history and potential will clearly conclude, as I have, that it is the case of the right idea in the wrong location.

There can be no doubt that Westport needs an additional nursing home so that people from Westport can avail of that kind of care, yet still live in their own area.  Already, there are cases of those in need of nursing home care in Westport, who have to take beds in places as far away as Ballinrobe, far from their families, friends and homes.

But the location and design of what is proposed for Knockranny's Colonel's Wood is wrong on several counts, for example knocking down a large area of woodland to make space for a nursing home is wrong, considering a wood has been on that location for at least 172 years, also the deforestation would effect the skyline of the area and there are serious infrastructural problems associated with the area such as road and pedestrian access, traffic control and water pressure. 

This plan does not take into account how far from the town centre and inaccessible such as nursing home would be for its residents, where unlike the residents of the MacBride Home, they would not be within walking distance of the shops, churches or library.  Residents would be isolated and reliant on motorised transport to take them in and out of town.

Finally the design and layout of the home and its car park are reminiscent of Hitler's Furher-Bunker or his Alpine Wolf's Lair retreat, as the nursing home and car park are to be hacked into a hillside with huge 2 and 3 storey retaining walls to ensure their foundations and are designed to remain completely isolated from the town and community around it.  All that is missing is some camouflage netting and anti aircraft guns to complete the illusion.

This nursing home application is not the result of careful consideration and planning by the owners of the wood but rather is a rushed effort to take advantage of the now extinguished tax breaks for nursing homes.  

Colonel's Wood should only be developed where by such development enables a better enjoyment of the woodland for all and which makes the wood a greater asset for the town. I appeal to Coilte to withdraw this application and to enter into a public discussion on the future of the woods.

To this end as part of the process of drawing up the new Town Development Plan, which will come into effect shortly, I proposed the zoning of Colonel's Wood as "K" Woodland (which does not allow the development of Nursing Homes, Holiday homes or Hotels) and included in my motion was a special objective for the area, which is written as follows, that, "any development at Colonel's Wood would be subject to a design brief agreed by the elected members (ie Councillors) and following a period of public consultation, the design brief would be brought before the Council for final agreement.  If ratified, a binding agreement would be entered into with Coilte". 

The zoning and special objective, which I proposed, ensures a partnership approach between all parties for the proper development of the area and was seconded by Cllr Ollie Gannon and received the support of the Cathaoirleach Cllr Staunton and Cllrs Hyland, McLaughlin and McGuire. 

It is my hope that the current application for the nursing home is refused and that we can then proceed with "partnership" approach to the future of Colonel's Wood in the best interests of all stakeholders and concerned parties as outlined in my motion.

 

Yours Faithfully,

 

Cllr Keith Martin

Leas Cathaoirleach

Westport Town Council