Howlin may act to save Howth's East Mountain

THE possibility of making a Special Amenity Area Order to protect the last remaining relatively unspoiled part of the Howth Peninsula…

THE possibility of making a Special Amenity Area Order to protect the last remaining relatively unspoiled part of the Howth Peninsula is to be pursued by the Minister for the Environment.

Mr Howlin made the commitment following a tour of Howth's East Mountain, which is currently threatened by development, and said he would be taking up the matter of an SAAO with Fingal County Council.

A statement issued by Howth Sutton 2000, an umbrella group for those concerned about the future of the peninsula, said he viewed with concern the "obtrusive and insensitive" structure now being built there.

"The Minister agreed that it is desirable to take all possible measures to protect the existing natural amenities of this very special landscape, which is of great recreational importance."

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Last April, Allenspark Ltd - a subsidiary of Treasury Holdings - bought over 200 acres of land on the East Mountain.

Frank McDonald

Frank McDonald

Frank McDonald, a contributor to The Irish Times, is the newspaper's former environment editor