Bellevue Land Purchase Petition Hits The Ground Running

The pre-whitewash Octagon. Pic: Oscar Hackett

atest press release from Jennifer Whitmore TD, issued on Tuesday, September 10th 2024…

In less than 48 hours, a petition set up by Jennifer Whitmore, TD for Wicklow which urgently calls on the State to purchase land in Delgany to facilitate the expansion of the Glen of the Downs, has gathered over 2000 signatures.

Following the discovery by the Greystones Guide that 197 acres of agricultural land had gone up for sale, Whitmore wrote to the Taoiseach and Minister for the Environment, stressing the need for a pivotal intervention to purchase this land to expand the Glen of Downs.

In addition, Whitmore launched an online petition that garnered over 2,000 signatures in under 48 hours, underlining the immediate need for action.

Speaking about the support for her campaign today, Whitmore said: “The support from locals across Wicklow for purchasing this land to expand the Glen of the Downs is phenomenal. I hope the Taoiseach and the Ministers for Environment and Biodiversity listen to the thousands asking for this crucial investment in our invaluable national treasure.

“In recent decades, the Glen of Downs has not been given the priority it deserves, and we need to take action on the biodiversity loss seen there.

“I raised this matter in Dáil before when I asked Coillte and the National Parks Service & Wildlife Service about a possible strategic plan for this area. That call was ignored, but I hope now that we are seeing such an outpouring of support from people across Wicklow, the Teasoich and Minister for Environment will take action.

“The sale of this land represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand this critical nature reserve and move in the right direction for biodiversity in Wicklow.”

With this land purchase a perfect fit for the Government’s €3.5b Climate & Nature Fund, you can sign that petition right here.