This article is from page 3 of the 2007-04-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A KILLALOE-BASED – architect looks set to join the general election race in Clare to highlight shortcom- ings in the planning system.
Garry Miley said yesterday: “The time has come I believe, to make a stand. The planning system at the moment is not democratic.”
Some of the faults that Mr Miley pointed out were long delays, inaccu- rate recording of issues discussed at pre-planning consultations, planning applications being invalidated for trivial reasons and inconsistencies in eleLortSloyem eared enerce
In his online blog, Mr Miley said that he was approached by a Dublin based group, including an independ- ent councillor and some of his col-
leagues, that wondered “if I might be interested in running for Dail Eire- ann on a ‘planning’ ticket in the up- coming election”.
Mr Miley said that Clare was an obvious place to run because it was a “four seat constituency with no star performers”.
“It’s my experience that the average people of Clare are more motivated by planning matters than anywhere else in the country, which means there’s a ready-made market for the message,” he said.
He added that it was “doable” to gain a Clare seat because Fine Gael had gained a seat in the last election with just 4,500 first preference votes and some transfers.
“The quota in Clare is, I think, around ten thousand but Fine Gael
managed to pick up their single seat in the last election with only 4,500 first preference votes and a bunch of transfers.
“Now, I can think of at least 4,500 people living in County Clare with a grievance about the planning system. Some decent transfers is all 1t would take.
“Manageable, I think, if you con- sider all the architects, engineers, planners (in private practice) build- ers, homeowners and developers across the county who’d easily pro- vide a match for the big party organi- See B (OD eon
Mr Miley said that he hoped some- one would run on the planning issue.
“If push does come to shove and no one else comes forward I will stand.”