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On a visit to Wicklow, Mr John Gormley, TD, Minister for
the Environment, Heritage & Local Government confirmed that
it is his intention to write to Wicklow County Council directing
them to make an order declaring the Great and Little Sugar
Loaf Mountains as areas of special amenity due to their outstanding
natural beauty.
The power for the Minister to make this direction to Wicklow
County Council - and the steps to be followed by the planning
authority - are set out in sections 202 and 203 of the Planning
and Development Act 2000. The Planning Acts provide that notification
of the special amenity area order must be made in one or more
local newspapers. The planning authority must then submit
the order - together with any objections - to An Bord Pleanála
for confirmation.
Where any objections to the order are not withdrawn, An Bord
Pleanála is required to hold an oral hearing and to consider
the objections. Following this, An Bord Pleanála may then
confirm the order - with or without modifications - or refuse
to confirm it.
Commenting, the Minister said - "my direction to make
this order for the Great and Little Sugar Loaf Mountains follows
on from the designation by Wicklow County Council of Bray
Head as a special amenity area and the confirmation of this
by An Bord Pleanála. These designations ensure that our scenic
landscapes are protected and make good sense from a tourism
point of view."
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