NTA consultation on public transport in North Dublin

The NTA is carrying out a public consultation on a North Dublin Tranport Study. At today’s Council meeting I made the following comments:

  • the study should evaluate linking the rail route options  with the Northern rail line near Donabate (in the list of options to be appraised, some link across while others seem to stop in the fields just north of Swords.)
  • similarly, connnections between bus and rail should be made wherever possible (e.g. the proposed Malahide Road to Tallaght Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route should start at Clongriffin Station, not 1km away from it.)
  • the appraisal criteria should include the impact of each option on the quality of urban spaces, the potential which it would open for pedestrianisation etc.
  • the appraisal should also include the impact of the option on cycling; the design recently put to consultation for the Swords BRT would create a lot of risks for both cyclists and pedestrians by making them share the footpaths.

The public consultation is open until 19th January.

 

 

 

Consultation on ‘coastal’ cycle route Baldoyle-Portmarnock-Malahide-Swords

An information evening is being held at Baldoyle Library between 15:30-19:30 on Thursday 11th December, 2014.

Plans and details of the proposed scheme will be available and Fingal staff will be present to provide further information on the project 

The proposed route will continue northwards from the existing Sutton-to-Sandycove route via Baldoyle and Portmarnock through Malahide and along Estuary Road to Swords.

The application is currently being prepared including the required Natura Impact Statement. It is intended to lodge the application for approval to An Bord Pleanala in early 2015.

Unfortunately the current plan seems to be to put the cycleway/footpath on the land side of the Baldoyle-Portmarnock Road. This would both fail to create the coastal cycleway as desired and fail to use the opportunity to improve flood defences.

I have argued that the existing carriageway should be moved inland to allow the cycleway and flood defences to be built without encroaching on the estuary.

Following input from Councillors, it is intended to also hold information evenings in other locations along the route but these have not yet been arranged. Here is the notice for the Baldoyle consultation.

 

 

Local election campaign / Feachtas um toghcháin áitiúil

David is the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas candidate in the Fingal County Council elections for the Howth/Malahide Area.

Tá a bhileog um thoghcháin ar fáil anseo. His election leaflet is here.

Most of the material archived on this website is from David’s time on the Council from 2004 to 2009; you can get a good idea of the issues and his record as a Councillor by searching or browsing the website.

David is an environmental professional with a degree in Law and a masters degree in Environmental Science. He works as Policy and Advocacy Officer with Oxfam Ireland, focusing in particular on the impact of climate change and biofuels on developing countries.

He has served as a Councillor for two periods: during the 1990s he campaigned against the rezonings later investigated by the Mahon/Flood Tribunal and promoted the Howth Special Amenity Area Order; from 2004 to 2009, he was successful in achieving strong energy efficiency standards for new developments and promoting the provision of children’s playgrounds.

If you would like to raise any issue with David or if you can help with the election campaign in any way please contact him at 087 6178852 or verdire@gmail.com

Biodiversity survey of Howth Head

Howth is one of 4 locations in Ireland for the 2014 Bioblitz, a 24-hour voluntary biodiversity survey which the public is invited to participate in.  More information on the event which runs from 5pm on the 23rd May (the day of the election ) until 5pm on 24th May is here.

Howth Junction Station needs planning permission

Green activist David Healy welcomes An Bord Pleanála’s ruling that Howth Junction Station needs planning permission.

An Bord Pleanála has ruled that most of Howth Junction train station was illegally rebuilt without planning permission.  The decision was made in response to a section 5 referral submitted by Fingal County Council as a result of a motion from then Councillor David Healy.  David is particularly concerned that the rebuilt train station does not provide for mobility impaired access to Fás Training Centre and Baldoyle Industrial Estate.

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