'Clay Mounds' in Stratford-on-Slaney Divide Opinion

A ROW has erupted in an iconic 18th-century village in west Wicklow, Stratford-on-Slaney, over the erection of berms, which are sculpted raised mounds of earth, on the village’s historic greens.

A petition created by the Stratford-on-Slaney Community Forum to have the berms removed has over 260 signatures. The town’s population at the last census was 241.

The petition explains the village’s unique history as one of Ireland’s only planned villages, built by Edward Stratford, earl of Aldborough, for his workers, from 1774 to 1792. It states that the erection of what it calls ‘clay mounds’ on the greens was done without ‘community consultation or showing residents visual plans.’ It also states that when residents attended recent tidy towns meetings to voice their objections ‘we were told they will follow what the national tidy towns judges say about the mounds. Our community’s voice does not matter to them.’ The petitioners listed four objections to the construction of the berms. Firstly, they deem them a ‘massive loss of heritage.’ Concerns over health and safety form part of the second objection, stating that ‘about 60 tons of soil now create dangerous bike ramps for children and block sightlines for drivers.’ Security is the petitioners’ third concern, saying that homeowners ‘that live on the green are worried about privacy and falling house prices.’ The final objection is regarded of a ‘loss of tradition,’ as they believe that these berms mean that the village Christmas tree can no longer be placed at the centre of the green.

Barbara Hanbidge, a resident of Stratford-on-Slaney and representative of Stratford Community Forum, said that the group intends to get legal advice and contact their local TDs about how they should go about getting the berms removed.

Under current planning laws, the tidy towns committee did not need to get planning permission to place the berms as they are classified as ornamental landscaping under the Planning and Development, Section 321.

However, Barbara emphasised the forum’s desire for relations in the town to remain civil and praised the past work of the village’s tidy towns committee, saying that this was the first time residents had ever objected to a tidy towns initiative.

In a statement to The Nationalist, Stratford Tidy Towns committee said that the decision to erect the berms was a part of the ‘programme of improvements’ that the committee were making to the village in response to ‘Stratford’s declining rating in the tidy towns competition in recent years.’ The decision to build the berms had only been undertaken after the committee had sought the ‘assistance of an experienced and qualified designer to guide us in maximising the aesthetics of the village. All works undertaken are compliant with statutory regulations.’ Hugh O’Keefe, chairperson of Stratford Tidy Towns, defended the construction of the berms: “They’re going to be simply beautiful creations in the village that everyone can be proud of.” He explained that the berms are going to be seeded with grass and then planted.

Hugh did admit that several people “are not happy with what we are doing,” but said that those people “are not involved, never have been involved and never did support the concept of the tidy towns.” In response to the petitioners’ claim that “despite four requests for an open meeting to allow dialogue, they have declined to engage with us,” Hugh said that since he took over as chairperson in November, all Stratford Tidy Towns meetings have been open meetings that were publicised in advance. He said that objectors have attended two of the meetings.

“We’re very open and very democratic,” Hugh said.