Madam, - Your Editorial "Planning laws and best practice" (November 7th) displayed as balanced an approach to planning and the role of councillors that I have seen in a long time.
I will leave it to others to defend those "greedy builders"; I have no intention of doing so. I do believe, however, that in general the role of councillors in the planning process has been seriously misrepresented in the media with an emphasis on the few who have facilitated shoddy development rather than the majority of us who have tried to ensure good planning and sustainable development.
So, before The Irish Times reports more instances of councillors losing powers it might bear in mind some facts. In my own area of Pembroke-Rathmines it was councillors who successfully blocked the building of 110 apartments on a flood plain at Milltown after officials approved it.
When the officials persisted and granted permission, it was a councillor who appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála, at considerable financial cost, and had that permission reversed.
Similarly, in order to protect the few remaining green spaces in our City it was councillors who persisted in introducing the new Z15 category zoning to prevent over-development of institutional lands.
It was councillors who amended the city development plan so that the flexibility previously allowing some limited residential development on green spaces was removed. In recent months it has been councillors who have persisted in defending the integrity of the plan when officials have tried to allow over-development in the Ballsbridge area. I share your view that An Bord Pleanáa itself will be tested on all these matters when it comes to making a decision on the Jury's/Berkeley Court appeal.
I look forward to being "held to account" at the next local elections and I hope The Irish Timeswill cover those elections in a serious and informed manner. - Yours, etc,