Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The eastern uplands area of County Kildare is singled out in the Kildare county development plan. In recent months two of my constituents had planning permission refused by Kildare County Council for a two-storey house and a dormer bungalow owing to the Kildare county development plan LU 1 which states it is the policy of the council "to ensure the development will not have a disproportionate visual impact (due to excessive bulk, scale or inappropriate siting) and will not significantly interfere or detract from scenic upland vistas when viewed from areas nearby, scenic routes, viewpoints and settlements". Planning permission was denied to both individuals because the structures, both of which would be less than 9 m high, would be contrary to proper planning, yet the same individuals could see a 45 m high pylon receive planning permission at the same location. One can plant hedging and trees around a dwelling to screen it, but it is very difficult to screen a 45 m pylon. People do not understand how this could happen.

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