Kinsealy greenways added to Local Area Plan

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At the monthly Council meeting on Monday 13th May, I succeeded in having greenway links from Kinsealy a) to Portmarnock, b) to Kettle’s Lane and c) to Balgriffin/Belmayne included in the Kinsealy Local Area Plan.

Importantly, my motion on phasing resulted in a decision that the greenway from Kinsealy to Old Portmarnock/R124  (which will give access to Portmarnock railway station) be included with a timeframe of including it in the 2020 Capital Programme and submitting the planning application for it in 2021. Continue reading →

Motions to amend Kinsealy Local Area Plan

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Having received the Chief Executive’s report on the public consultation on the draft LAP, I am not happy with the lack of progress on connecting Kinsealy to neighbouring areas especially to Portmarnock railway station and I’m proposing the following four amendments to the Plan:

Motion 1

That in response to recommendations received, including from the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government, the LAP be amended to include the following in section 11:

The full segregated cycle and pedestrian link to Old Portmarnock/ R124 to provide access to Portmarnock train station shall be provided as part of the first phase of further development under the Kinsealy Local Area Plan.

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Response to public consultation on Kinsealy Local Area Plan

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The following is my response to the public consultation on the Kinsealy Local Area Plan:
Although much of the land at Kinsealy should not have been zoned for residential development, I welcome the opportunity to respond to the draft Local Area Plan.
My primary concern is in relation to providing for active travel modes within the LAP and to adjoining areas. The pre-draft consultation highlighted the importance of providing quality walking and cycling links from Kinsealy to neighbouring areas, in particular to Portmarnock railway station. The draft LAP shows a lot of positive intention in this regard but is very confusing when it comes to understanding exactly what is planned. At this stage in the process there should be clear proposals to respond to.

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Response to Bus Connects Consulation on Clongriffin, Swords, Blanchardstown and Lucan routes

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I have sent the following response to the Bus Connects Core Bus Corridor consultation:
I welcome the development of proposals to give better priority to public transport and cycling through the Core Bus Corridors.  All of the recommendations below are made to improve the proposals, rather than to reject them.  In some instances the changes needed are small, while in others, substantial reconsideration is needed. There is some distance to go to finalise the proposals to really serve the goals of a quality urban environment and efficient urban transport, and I make this submission in order to urge the necessary changes.

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Response to public consultation on Fingal Climate Action Plan

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My brief response to the consultation on a draft Fingal Climate Action Plan  focussed on the importance of a more detailed public participation process for taking climate action to achieve the 40% reduction in emissions which is a target we signed up to in the Covenant of Mayors . I advocate a major focus by Fingal County Council on  actions to reduce transport emissions, as transport is the largest emission sector and one for which Fingal has significant influence.

The submission: Meeting the commitment to the Covenant of Mayors through a process of public participation

This will be coming back to the Council for final decision in either April or May.

Submission to An Bord Pleanála oral hearing in relation to Clonshaugh sewage treatment plant and Ireland’s Eye outfall

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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.

South Fingal Transport Study

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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.

Response to Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy consultation

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As a member of the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly, I was involved in drafting the Green Party submission to the consultation on the draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The submission is quite brief and contains recommendations in the following areas:

  • ensuring that effective sustainability indicators are used;
  • halting and reversing biodiversity loss in line with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, including large-scale rewetting of peatlands and restoration of natural ecosystems including wetlands and woodlands across the region, taking account of the major social and economic benefits which could result;
  • ensuring the implementation of the Water Framework Directive through the planning system;
  • transitioning to the circular economy;
  • measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from the plan and ensuring it puts us on a path to a low -carbon economy
  • investing in walking and cycling, recognising their public health and environmental benefits
  • investing in public transport, in particular rail.