David Byrne has, in a private capacity, been a strong supporter of the S2S campaign since it started. In a letter to the group dated 27th June 2003 as EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, he expresses his support for the proposal. ” Not only is this exciting because of the pleasure it will provide to so many people but it will also greatly contribute to the improvement of public health.” Read the full text of the letter in PDF format.

The Genealogical Society of Ireland is restoring and refurbishing the beautiful Martello Tower at Seapoint as a permanent base for their archives. In an e-mail message to S2S, which we have posted in the support page, Secretary Michael Merrigan reports that they expect to open the centre in 2004 in this landmark building. This very welcome enterprise will be perhaps the first of a series of new attractions along the S2S route. For more information, visit the web site of theGenealogical Society of Ireland

THE DUBLIN BAY FUN CYCLE (Sun 21 Sep 03) FROM HOWTH VILLAGE TO BLACKROCK PARK AND BACK. BRING YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO CAN RIDE A BIKE!

The fun cycle is organised by the Diabetes Federation of Ireland. It has the theme ‘Life is Better Under Seven’ because it aims to raise awareness among the 200,000 Irish people with diabetes of a vital long-term blood sugar reading known as A1c.

For further information on how to participate please contact the Diabetes Federation of Ireland on
1850 909 909 or log onto www.diabetes.ie

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council received over 2500 submissions on the draft development plan from members of the public. There was strong support in several submissions for the S2S promenade and cycleway. The Councillors will debate the plan over several meetings in November and December 2003. Neither the Manager or any of the Councillors have proposed any alteration to the S2S proposal as set out in the draft development plan and it is expected to be approved.

In what can only be seen as a major milestone for the S2S campaign, the Dublin Regional Authority, on behalf of Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin Transportation Office, have advertised in Irish and EU journals for consultants to carry out a Preliminary Design Study and Environmental Report for the provision of a promenade and cycleway from Sutton to Sandycove. The move has also been supported by the Minister of Transport, Seamus Brennan TD, who has committed €50,000 towards the cost of the study. The remainder will be funded by the participating bodies. The expectation is that tenders will be submitted early in December and that consultants will be appointed immediately thereafter. Read the full text of the advertisement here.

The Dublin Regional Authority has received 14 proposals from groups comprised of leading professionals in the environmental, engineering, architectural and planning fields for the design and environmental study on the S2S proposal. A short list has been prepared and interviews of the short-listed candidates will be held in mid-February. It is expected that an appointment will be made very shortly thereafter and that the study will be underway by March 2004.

Dublin City Council is the latest local authority to include the S2S proposal in its new draft development plan. The Draft Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011 will be on public display for a period of 10 weeks, from Monday 2nd February, 2004 to Thursday, 15th April, 2004 (excluding public holidays). The full text of the plan together with dates and venues at which the plan can be viewed, can be found under Services-Planning at Dublin City Council web-site. This is another great boost for the campaign. We ask all supporters of the S2S project to write to Dublin City Council expressing their support for the proposal. Written submissions or observations, marked “Draft Development Plan” should be submitted to the Executive Manager, Planning Department, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8.

Another milestone has been reached in the campaign to promote the Sandycove to Sutton Cycleway and Promenade. On Friday 27th February, 2004, ffollowing interviews of a short list of consultants, the Dublin Regional Authority has accepted the recommendation of the interview board and appointed a consortium to undertake the design and environmental study of the proposal. The Consortium is lead by WSP and included AWN Consulting, Ryan Hanley and Tiros Resources. The consortium will start work immediately and is expected to complete the project by next summer. The importance of this study lies in the fact that it will look at the entire route as a single entity. All of the Local Authorities along with the Department of Transport, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin Transportation Office are supporting the study.

Support for the project continues to grow. In a letter to Dublin City Council advocating support, Clara Clarke has encapsulated much of what we would hope for the proposal. To quote from her submission:

“As a regular cyclist and walker, I can see the huge merits of this project, which will reclaim the coastline and access to the sea, beaches, and fresh air, safe and removed from cars, lorries and roads. The S2S route, once established, will be used by commuters, families, staff during lunch and break times, as well as exercisers. It will finally encourage people out of cars, even off buses, to avail of the pleasant, SAFER, and environmentally friendlier route to and from their places of work, and as a mode of transport. It will allow students and school-children a quicker, healthier, more fun way of getting to/from school/college.”

The full text of Clara’s mail can be read in the Support section.

The following is the text of an e-mail we received from Brian Maurer, Medical Director, Irish Heart Foundation :
“Warmly support this initiative of which I have only just learned. Can we be of help in progressing the work. With increasing energy costs there will be no better time to start lobbying vigorously.”
Brian Maurer 12th September 2005