INVESTING FOR THE LONG TERM

Photo: Swan Park Buncrana

Photo: Development area behind the house.

Photo: Swilly sunset

Work has started on a new housing complex behind our house. Eventually there will be around 65 houses and flats that will cater for the ever-growing population of Inishowen. The building contractors are using three large diggers and some earthmovers to get the levels ready for the foundations to be put down. Like most new developments, this one will not be a through road and the builders are trying in vain to build a barrier to keep the kids out as well as putting up a notice telling people not to trespass. The lure of change is like a magnet for the children and nothing will stop them from going over and playing in the mud. Children need somewhere to play and as development spills out of the towns there are less and less areas where we can get away from it all. Areas in or near towns need thoughtful planning allowing for areas of parkland for whenever we need a place to recharge our batteries and get a sense of well being. Most well designed towns and cities all have green areas to relax, not just a bit of grass on the edge of an estate where the builders couldn’t push another house because of planning regulations. There was an open day for us to see the development plan of Buncrana recently. This showed areas for housing and of course the infamous inner and outer ring road plans. These are all well and good but there was no mention or suggestion that any areas will be set aside for communal use. In the last few years I have witnessed quite a few miles of walkways along the Crana River disappear due to housing developments encroaching on the paths. Some areas haven’t been lost totally but houses from new estates are now overlooking them. The occupiers of the houses probably feel that walkers are invasive and the walkers probably feel the same about the homeowners. I was in the council offices a while ago asking for the boundary map for Swan Park in Buncrana as I felt this would eventually come under threat. Worryingly enough, the town engineer told me that there aren’t any plans. I find this very hard to believe but if this is true and no firm boundary is in place, this could give rise to any developer moving in on one of the last sheltered areas of private walkways that we have in Buncrana. Harry Percival Swan will be turning in his grave- unless its been built on of course!

Update-Since this was written, the houses are past phase 1 and there has been a large 17 acre plot of land sold next to Swan Park, for development of course!

Environmental