Preparation of a new Development Plan for County Louth.

Louth County Council, which is the Planning Authority for County Louth, hereby gives notice under Section 11 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Article 13B of the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 of its intention to review the County Development Plan 2003 – 2009 and to prepare a new Development Plan

The planning authority will carry out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) as part of the review process and for this purpose the planning authority will prepare an environmental report on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the new plan and the provisions of articles 13C to 13J shall apply.

Louth County Council is inviting submissions or observations regarding the review of the existing County Development Plan and the preparation of a new Development Plan. This is a pre-draft consultation period and further consultations will take place after the draft has been prepared. This initial stage of consultation will take place up until Friday May 30th 2008.

An Issues Paper outlining and highlighting areas for consideration as part of the review process has been prepared and will be available for inspection during normal opening hours at the following locations;

· Louth County Council, County Hall, Millennium Centre, Dundalk

· Dundalk Town Council, Town Hall, Crowe Street, Dundalk

· Drogheda Borough Council, Fair Street, Drogheda

· Louth County Council, Mid Louth Civic Service Centre, Fairgreen, Ardee

· Louth County Council, Area Office, Station House, Dunleer

All major Libraries in County Louth and also on our website 24 hours a day .

A programme of public consultation will be carried out as part of the pre-draft consultation process. At these sessions members of the public will have the opportunity to discuss the issues, policies and objectives which they consider to be important in formulating the new plan.