Future-Proof Wexford is about getting County Wexford better prepared to deal with the challenges presented by climate change.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, an authority on extreme weather, wildfires, and other climate impacts, says that while he is not convinced that climate change is happening faster than anticipated, he is “increasingly convinced that we’ve underestimated the impacts of some of the changes that were … predicted”.
The new Co Wexford Development Plan is due for rubber-stamping in the very near future. If it is the case that scientists may have under-estimated the impact of climate change, what are the chances that the plan is already in need of updating?
FPW is calling on Wexford County Council to establish a multi-disciplinary group, under the chairmanship of a Director of Service, to examine the draft County Development Plan before it is formally ratified. This group should have a meaningful input into ensuring the plan is fit for purpose as regards meeting the challenges which lie ahead.
Update:
Wexford County Council got in touch to say that they are “at the final stages of consultation in our development plan” and that it will be difficult to add to it at this stage. They go on to say that following changes to the draft plan, “each chapter has climate change over arching-objectives (first in the Country to do this) but also includes new innovations in the development management chapter and a drive to be carbon neutral in energy production vs usage in the County in our energy strategy”.
This is, of course, good news. It remains the case, however, that the real work will be in the implementation and enforcement of the policies and measures outlined.
The Council points out that there is still a chance for the public to influence future policy: “At present we are consulting on the Enniscorthy Town Centre Regeneration Framework” and next year “we are now moving to the town plans (local area plans)”.
Future-Proof Wexford 