One of the key figures campaigning against redevelopment plans for Greystones Harbour is to stand in the general election as an Independent candidate.
Evelyn Cawley, public relations officer with the Greystones Protection and Development Association, announced yesterday she would be standing in the five-seat constituency of Wicklow. She will stand on a platform of "planning reform and social responsibility".
In a statement announcing her candidacy, Ms Cawley said Co Wicklow had seen a rapid population increase in recent years, but many of the new houses had few public facilities. "My belief is that this election is about improving people's quality of life and there must be an honest attempt to do this by the next government."
She also said that the general public was feeling increasingly detached from politics. "There is widespread disenchantment with politics because ordinary people no longer regard it as an avenue for affecting decisions that impact on their lives."
Ms Cawley has been centrally involved in a high-profile campaign against a €300 million redevelopment proposal for Greystones Harbour, which has the support of Wicklow County Council.
Nearly 10,000 signatures against the proposal, which has been before An Bord Pleanála, have been collected by the development association.
It is unclear yet whether Ms Cawley's candidacy will be endorsed by the development association. The idea of endorsing a single candidate had been mooted but there was understood to be opposition from some association members.
There will be intense competition in the five-seater at the election, with two of the sitting TDs, Joe Jacob of Fianna Fáil and Independent Mildred Fox, retiring.
Fianna Fáil will be fighting to maintain its two seats, while Labour, Fine Gael and the Green Party have all targeted the constituency for a seat gain.