Sir, - Michael Smith of An Taisce (August 9th) says that the organisation is disappointed at the decision by an Bord Pleanala to allow a nine-storey tower (sic) in Temple Bar. Since I presume An Taisce represents all of us, perhaps Mr Smith could explain in layman's language to the great unwashed out there exactly what is wrong with buildings of different heights in the same general area. Then we may all understand exactly what we are being protected from (whiplash perhaps?). Unless I am permanently hallucinating, this general area also contains the Central Bank, the Clarence Hotel and the Dublin Corporation Offices in Wood Quay.
May I suggest to Mr Smith that An Taisce might serve our interests better if, instead, it used its energy to oppose the destruction of the surrounding countryside. Every year thousands of acres are scraped off, paved over, and filled with rows of identical semi-detached boxes, and not a peep is heard from An Taisce. To my uncultured eye this is a lot more "visually intrusive" and "unsympathetic" than a multi-storey building in the city centre.
May I also suggest that An Taisce's neurotic preoccupation with preserving the drabbest urban skyline in the developed world has contributed to the present urban sprawl well beyond the natural boundaries of the city. In other civilised countries cities with similar populations occupy less than half the space. Others more qualified than me might comment on the obvious negative implications of such a sprawl for infrastructure and transport.
In conclusion could I say three cheers for an Bord Pleanala, and may we have more of the same. - Yours, etc., DONAGH O'GRADY,
Lucan, Co Dublin.
PS: We should be thankful that An Taisce was not in existence when the Four Courts was being built, otherwise we wouldn't have that magnificent central dome to look up to.