A Feasibility Study on the provision of a universal access to Balscadden Beach has been completed. (This is separate to the allocation of funding for an architectural competition under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.)
Following the non-statutory consultation in 2021 (see my submission here), the Department of the Marine made a planning application (F21A/0368) for the dredging and infill. I didn’t hear about it until just before it was appealed to An Bord Pleanála (PL06F.314487). I have submitted an observation on the appeal.
Overall, I’m very concerned that the application really hasn’t thought through the amenity or biodiversity potential of an infill development, but will provide a road and some extra car parking neither of which is needed.
The Operations Dept of the Council is continuing to work on the reallocation of road space and other measures to facilitate safe walking and cycling. We had an online meeting of the Area Cttee. last week and following input from constituents, I presented this list of options which is being considered. I would be grateful for any further feedback or suggestions.
The meeting received this update on the previous list of actions.
The other reports received by the meeting are also interesting – Covid 19 response and 2020 programme of works.
At today’s Oral Hearing into the proposed sewage treatment plant, I am making this presentation focusing on the water quality aspects of the proposal. I have recently become aware of the important biodiversity along the sewer route at Ballymun and I am glad to have the opportunity to include the Ballymun Wildlife Group’s Report on Biodiversity at Northpoint in my submission.
A South Fingal Transport Study has been carried out for the Council. (This is in fulfilment of an objective in the County Development Plan which specified the Study would include public consultation; unfortunately the public consultation hasn’t happened.)
The Study contains strong recommendations about prioritising walking, cycling and public transport in the area, and will be discussed at a Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Policy Committee meeting on Monday 28th.
At the moment Fingal has no public drinking water fountains. This is in contrast to the situation in many other urban areas across Europe, where drinking water fountains are provided in public streets and parks. I raised it in the Howth/Malahide Area Committee in March and June, and this month I raised it at the full Council, as did Cllr. Barry Martin.
On foot of my motion, the Council established a policy of providing drinking water fountains in parks, on streets, and at beaches. The first step is the provision of two water fountains in the Howth Malahide Area in the next few weeks.
***Bus Connects consultation today Monday 17th September 2pm to 8pm Grand Hotel Malahide***
***Submission deadline 28th September www.busconnects.ie***
My draft submission is below. I would be interested in any feedback, positive or negative before I submit it.
1.Howth to city centre along the coast
An Bord Pleanála has written to say that Irish Water omitted documents from its application. There will be a further public consultation until 17th October. Information on this is at http://www.greaterdublindrainage.com/2018/09/07/additional-statutory-consultation-for-gdd/ . My previous submission is here.
Many people responded to the public consultation in 2015. Unfortunately, it seems as if those responses weren’t taken into account. Is there a document summarising the content of the input received to the consultation and IÉ’s responses to the submissions?You seem to have reduced services to some areas more than in the proposal you put to consultation. It is simply not correct to say that “Howth Junction, Clongriffin and Portmarnock will be served by fewer weekday Northern Commuter services”. The timetable which has been put online shows no diesel services stopping at these stations. There’s a considerable amount of irritation at the fact that so many trains will now be passing through Portmarnock, Clongriffin and Howth Junction without stopping and that the travel patterns people have developed in reliance on the services will not be disrupted.