Calamitous Monkstown Ring Road to be Scrapped?

clemo1

Just an update on this disastrous scheme. Monday night will see the members of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council vote to remove this road from the Development Plan. For info on this scheme please see pg 135 of the report here www.pleanala.ie/REP/ER2/RER2052.DOC

In summary, An Bord Pleanala's technical assessment of the scheme found it to be deeply flawed and contrary to proper sustainable transport planning, but their members still approved it as it complied with the Statutory Development Plan. As a result opponents, and the Green Party's Nessa Childers, have asked for it to be removed from this plan owing to the independent assessment carried out.

It would seem that apart from the 4 Green Councillors, FG's John Bailey and Maria Bailey and FF's Barry Conway, many Councillors remain unconvinced that this road will destroy vast swathes of suburban Dublin without conferring any benefits.

However they are beginning to turn. They are meeting with locals again, having had presentations from manager Owen "The argument that private car capacity should be increased was lost a long time ago" Keegan last week. For Niamh Breathnach, who lobbied to remove this scheme in 1993, to now approve it would be a joke considering the greatly increased environmental disbenefits that would now accrue from the scheme. For FG, whose John Bailey has been vehement in his disdain for this road, to open up a new public schism between Dail hopefuls Bailey and Regan would also do them damage in a very sensitive constituency they once dominated.

Monday Night will be interesting. We will find out for sure if all the bluster from the major parties about environmental concerns and the promotion of sustainable transport is just that.

Do they (Breathnach, McCarthy, Smyth, Baker, O'Leary, Regan, Butler, Devlin, Mitchell O'Connor et al) have the stomach necessary to stand up and make the proper decision based on the facts? Do they have the necessary insight to leave 1970's transport planning philosophy behind? Have they the necessary imagination to come up with sustainable solutions to urban transport problems? Are they willing to allow professional, considered, detailed advice to be brushed aside by haphazard mismanagement of the County?

it's now time for the elected members to exercise their mandate and run the damn county the way it should be...

Navan Junction

Fiona Gartland, Irish Times, 10/10/2006

A controversial road in south Dublin was given final approval by councillors last night following a two-hour debate.


The 1.2km Monkstown Ring Road, linking the Stradbrook area of Blackrock to Stillorgan Park, was approved by An Bord Pleanála in June. The road requires the demolition of some 16 homes, including Yankee Terrace, a row of 19th century cottages.

Approval was granted by the board following an oral hearing and despite a recommendation from its inspector to reject it.

A strong campaign organised by residents against the road had increased the pressure on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors before last night's meeting and the debate was accompanied by a noisy protest outside the council offices.

However, last night councillors voted 16 to 11 against a motion to instruct the manager not to proceed with the road, tabled by Green Party Councillor Nessa Childers, Fianna Fáil's Barry Conway and Cllr John Bailey of Fine Gael.

Mr Conway argued that the road would "cut like a scythe" through the local community and Ms Childers said that in an effort to connect two retail areas, the council had forgotten that "people live there too".

However, Cllr Eugene Regan said the road was an essential piece of infrastructure that should go ahead.

County Manager Owen Keegan also strongly endorsed the road. He agreed to offer extra measures to ameliorate against the effects of the road on surrounding houses provided they did not conflict legally with An Bord Pleanála's ruling. And, in a first for the council, he said he would be willing to assist in the provision of double glazing for 40 or so dwellings.

© The Irish Times

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2006/1010/1160340168051.html

spacetweek

clemo1 wrote:

Just an update on this disastrous scheme. Monday night will see the members of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council vote to remove this road from the Development Plan. For info on this scheme please see pg 135 of the report here www.pleanala.ie/REP/ER2/RER2052.DOC

What was the result?