Integration the key in new developments

There are numerous buzz words and catchphrases to describe the effect of the population explosion.

People are talking about the 'Los Angelesisation of Dublin' and then there is the 'Dublinisation of Wicklow'.

Whatever name-tag is attached to it the result is that service providers are under enormous pressure.

Community and Enterprise Development Officer with Wicklow County Council, Margaret Malone, explains that local authorities, the health service, gardai and numerous other providers are feeling the pinch when it comes to dealing with the rapid pace of development.

'Take the Charlesland development in Greystones, for example,' Margaret says.

'Overnight we had a new community of 3,000 people. This might be all right in Dublin but the counties around Dublin don't have the same experience of dealing with such growth to draw upon. We're now having to deal with these new communities.'

The county council tried to second guess the type of people who would be living in Charlesland.

All the marketing targeted young professionals who would be out at work all day and would not really be in Greystones during the day.

But what they are finding now is that there are some stay at home families and there are a lot of children but there is very little space for them to use. The fear is that this could cause problems 10 years down the line.

Wicklow County Council has commissioned research from NUI Maynooth who are looking into what constitutes new communities and what impact new communities have on existing communities.

They are contrasting what it is like to live in Charlesland, which because of its location on the edge of Greystones is almost a standalone community, and Rathdrum which is on the brink of huge development.

'Rathdrum has not received huge investment by anyone over the last number of years,' Margaret comments.

'Now there is investment but it is in residential development. Where are all the support services to handle that development? There isn't enough car parking around the train station, Market Square is almost derelict, there is very little that people can tap into.'

The council has been in contact with the local Acorn development group which has been running a childcare facility in the town but Margaret points out that it is unfair to expect voluntary groups to provide essential services.

She adds that it is important to let the people of Rathdrum know that they have a voice and that they should use it. The people in Charlesland are vocal and know there rights but people in Rathdrum need to make their collective voice heard.

'The Rathdrum community has to react to the changes. The existing community cannot continue in isolation from the new community. They have to tap into the social capital,' she says.

They are looking into what it takes to get people integrated and get new people involved in existing communities.

'Community space is the key,' Margaret states adding that they need meeting rooms, childcare facilities and space where people can interact.

In Charlesland neighbours may not know each other but an interesting phenomenon has sprung up whereby people are using web-based message boards to offer services and meet each other.

One of the developments associated with Charlesland was the construction of Charlesland Sport and Recreation Park which was built by the developers but handed over to the council. The 20 acre park benefits the whole community and enables people to interact.

'Charlesland happened almost too quickly for us. But there are a number of other large developments in the pipeline and there's a responsibility on all of us to be better prepared,' Margaret adds.

Bray People