Sir, - Now that all the furore with regard to An Taisce criticism as to the inappropriate replacement of wooden window frames with plastic window frames in the town centre of Kinsale has abated somewhat, I would like to state that we are not faceless people and to place the following on record.
Where were all these detractors when we were appealing the planning applications that would have utterly destroyed the character of the town? Where were they when we resisted the granting of planning permission for the golf club on the Old Head? Indeed where are they now, when we are trying to prevent the wanton destruction of the boglands around Kinsale? The main problem in Kinsale is that too many people want all the benefits, but none of the responsibility. If the small businesses of the town had been prepared to put their money where their mouths are in the first place, we would not have had to make these comments at all.
With regard to the cost of housing in and around Kinsale, all I can say is that we live in a country where market forces dictate prices. As such, those who cannot afford to invest in property in Kinsale simply just cannot afford to live in Kinsale and will just have to go to where they can afford to live.
Finally, in my opinion the sooner that closed circuit television cameras are installed around Kinsale town, the sooner the criminal elements and undesirables will be moved on to somewhere else. A lot of other towns around the coast might do well to take a leaf from our book. - Yours, etc., John James,
Kinsale,
Co. Cork.