Just at the moment when Dublin City Council announce they are to proceed with the last remaining section of the S2S project on the Seafront at Dollymount in the North Dublin Bay,  Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLRCC) has announced that it plans to abandon the seafront location for the S2S in the South Dublin Bay.  It now plans to “re-route” it away from the seafront into Blackrock Park and on to the Merrion Road.  The new policy is set out in Section 9 of the recently published Draft Blackrock Local Area Plan.  If implemented, there will be no seafront walkway or cycleway between Sandymount and Dun Laoghaire.

Of the total 22 kms around Dublin Bay only 4 Kms is now missing on the available seafront and it is this section that DLRCC proposes to abandon. It is simply incredible that a vision which has such public support and in which so much time, effort and public money has been invested by the Department of Transport Trade and Tourism, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Dublin Transport Authority, the Dublin Regional Authority and (in former times) by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, can be destroyed by the actions of the officials in one local authority.  It should be noted that the majority of the Councillors in Dun Laoghaire have consistently supported the S2S project.

The “likely negative impact on the local habitats” is given as the reason for abandoning the seafront location and the re-routing of it into Blackrock Park (and then onto the Merrion Road).  Note that it is the “likely” impact on which the decision is made.  While it is acknowledged that The National Parks and Wildlife Service have expressed concern about the proposal, the process by which developments are determined to be acceptable or not, is clearly set out in the Habitats Directives. It requires a study called an Appropriate Assessment to be undertaken by the relevant Local Authority before a decision can be made as to whether a proposal can or cannot proceed.  No such Appropriate Assessment has been made by DLRCC and furthermore the Council officials have made it clear that they have no intention of undertaking one.  Instead, they rely on their judgement that the process is unlikely to succeed and therefore not worth starting.  Thus DLRCC is not only denying the community the right to have the matter formally assessed in accordance with the legislation, the Council has prejudged the outcome of such a study, significantly damaging the possibility of the matter receiving an impartial hearing.

What is even more frustrating in all of this is that DLRCC could just go ahead and do what they are proposing to upgrade the existing cycleway in Blackrock Park and around the Dart Station without any reference to the S2S project in the draft Blackrock Local Area Plan.  The fact that they have not done so but instead have stated that they are re-routing the S2S project inland, leads one to believe that their intention is not so much focussed on creating new facilities as stopping the S2S being completed on the seafront.  Adoption of the plan as drafted will prevent others who still believe in the vision and would wish to continue to seek solutions to the issues from doing so, destroying the hopes and aspirations other Government agencies and Local Authorities with a direct interest in the S2S project as well as the thousands of citizens who wish to see the S2S project proceed.

The S2S group has made a detailed submission to DLRCC in relation to the matter, a copy of which can be found here.

Any member of the public may make submissions to the Council and we earnestly request all those who feel strongly about the matter to do so. The closing date for submissions is the 20^th June 2013. Submissions and observations may be made in one of the following ways:-

1.Write to:

Senior Executive Officer,
Planning and Enterprise Department,
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council,
County Hall,
Marine Road,
Dun Laoghaire.

2.Email to:

blackrocklap@dlrcoco.ie

Note:

• Children, or groups or associations representing the interests of children, are entitled to make submissions or observations. (How many parents wish to allow their children to cycle on the Merrion Road?)
• All submissions and observations should include your name and a contact address and where relevant, details of any organisation, community group or company etc., which you represent.
• Please make your submission by one medium only, i.e. hard copy or e-mail.

Supporters who wish to contact us in connection with the issue may do so by e-mail to support@s2s.ie

Michael

It is just over 12 years since we started this campaign and while much has been achieved in getting the project acccepted by the numerous authorities that control such matters, nothing has happened “on the ground”  That is about to change.  Dublin City Coucil has completed the relevant process under the Planning Act and the Councillors have voted to proceed with the missing section at Dollymount.  More detail is available in earlier posts. Work will start this year and it is expected to be complete by next year.

In a related but unexpected announcement by Michael Philips, Dublin City Engineer, the Council has decided to move forward with the section of the S2S  from Fairview to Ringsend including  crossing the Liffey.  Let’s hope they can include a small pedestrian/cycle bridge linking Sir John Rogersons Quay to Ringsend, across the junction of the Dodder river with the Liffey.  What a difference that would make!

Dublin City Council officials and Councillors are to be congratulated on the positive actions they have taken to move the project forward.  They stand in stark contrast to the apathy that persists with officials in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, where a section of 4kms where there is no seafront walkway or cycleway remains to complete the 22Kms.

More information on the decision by Dublin City Council can be found in this article which appeard in the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/news/councillors-approve-35m-plan-for-dublin-bikes-expansion-1.1392187

The Slí na Sláinte campaign, run by the Irish Heart Foundation, has expressed strong support for the campaign. In a letter to S2S dated 8th August 2002, chairman Paddy Murphy describes the proposal as an innovative and simple idea that would compliment and enhance their plans for public walkway facilities in Dublin.
The campaign is aimed at improving public health by encouraging people to take more exercise by walking regularly. To see the full text of the letter click here

Sustrans

the internationally recognised organisation promoting sustainable transport solutions has strongly endorsed the S2S proposal. In a letter to the campaign dated 8th May 2003, they state: “We very much hope that this stunning coastal promenade and associated landscaping will provide a section of the long distance cross border cycle route and a section of the all Ireland Cycle Network. It is likely that it will be the most used cycle route in all of Ireland”. To see the full text of the letter click here.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have just published for public comment their Draft Development Plan 2004-2010 and they have included a coastal walk and cycleway from Booterstown to Sandycove, with the intention to continue it south along the coast to the County boundary at Bray.
This is indeed very good news and we congratulate DLRCC on their decision. Read the detailed extract from the Draft Development Plan here. You will find the full draft development plan on the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council website here.
It would be very good for the campaign if the Council were to be made aware of the widespread support that exists for the coastal promenade and cycleway. People who wish to express their support for the proposal are encouraged to do so by either writing or e-mailing the Council at devplan@dlrcoco.ie. The standard form for making a written submission can be found at the Council’s website here. Note: Submissions to the Council must be submitted before July 1st 2003.

Arising out of a discussion on NewsTalk 106, S2S has received an e-mail of support from Jimmy Quinn of the IRHA.
To read the full text of this and other e-mails check the support page.

S2S has made a submission to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in relation to their Draft Development Plan 2004-2010. See the full text of the letter.

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