00sully wrote: » 3. Ecology - pfft as above. Spouting this line should be an absolute embarrassment to the residents (and I know the chief leader in this regard who had no problem with his land grab)
Former Former Former wrote: » I think there's a wonderful irony in calling something a greenway, then sending a bulldozer in to remove all the green stuff. What some residents did or did not do with their gardens doesn't change the fact that the canal is home to all sorts of foxes, squirrels, bats, birds, etc, and ripping up all the trees will have a huge impact on them, as does having 24/7 lighting. Now, Fingal and Waterways could offset this to a fairly significant extent by closing off the existing towpath on the southern side and letting that return to nature over time. But they won't do that either because they don't give a f**k about it. They haven't even bothered to explain why. They're deeply, deeply incompetent when it comes to environmental protection and I will be letting ABP know that when the time comes.
Former Former Former wrote: » Maybe some of the residents are using this as a red herring... but I don't live near the greenway and the ecological impact is my main beef with it. (Edit: I live in Carpenterstown but not close enough to the canal that it will make any direct odds to me which side it's on). I think there's a wonderful irony in calling something a greenway, then sending a bulldozer in to remove all the green stuff. What some residents did or did not do with their gardens doesn't change the fact that the canal is home to all sorts of foxes, squirrels, bats, birds, etc, and ripping up all the trees will have a huge impact on them, as does having 24/7 lighting. Now, Fingal and Waterways could offset this to a fairly significant extent by closing off the existing towpath on the southern side and letting that return to nature over time. But they won't do that either because they don't give a f**k about it. They haven't even bothered to explain why. They're deeply, deeply incompetent when it comes to environmental protection and I will be letting ABP know that when the time comes.
Mercian Pro wrote: » Excellent response 00Sully on 14/6. Out of curiosity, I went back and looked at the 2012 Atkins Report to see what they had to say about the north bank option at the Deep Sinking. The answer - precisely nothing. Of the four options considered for this section, three involved various complicated and expensive engineering "solutions" for widening the southern towpath while the fourth proposed diverting the Greenway through adjoining residential areas. Maybe they felt constrained by the brief they were given "to examine the engineering feasibility of upgrading the existing towpath" (my underlining) or maybe they couldn't think outside the box.
PhoenixParker wrote: » The brief was probably written that way to avoid wasting time on options that were clearly less favourable.
knockoutned wrote: » Some posters are taken this personally and this seems to a major reason why they want the path on the Northside.
knockoutned wrote: » Finally, with the plan for the Northside, there is a requirement to construct two bridges, one to be an "architectural masterpiece"! Are you as confident that these will not cost more. There seems to be little or no conversation on these.
Chrisam wrote: » I wonder how many of the posters here, have walked the towpath from Coolmine to Castleknock? I have, right through spring into summer and the north bank is a glorious wilderness for almost a kilometre, of the 1.55kms from Coolmine train station to Castleknock train station. Foxes, birdsong, hawthorns etc. I don't care about the residents' gardens, at Delwood or Roselawn - that is just a smokescreen, to hide the fact that FCC are planning a habitat destruction, of 30+ years. As we can see from the different 'expert' reports, documents can be made to say anything they are commissioned to do. Walk that stretch and see it for yourself. One side of the canal is rich with biodiversity, the other has the towpath. It's as simple as that. And ask FCC why their most up to date biodiversity plan is 2010-2015.
mr potato head wrote: » Regularly, and as you say it's wonderful. Everything possible must be done to protect as much of this as possible during construction and to replace/improve habitats (for example rewilding the South Bank) afterwards.
knockoutned wrote: » I believe currently the only access is at the 12th lock, which is a mess due to construction at the tennis club and Ashtown, which at that stage you may as well stay on the Navan Road. This path has been constructed and been in use for years and yet no work on accessibility has been made.
Former Former Former wrote: » In the meantime, all the animals will have died. It's an incredible price to pay but I know I'm wasting my breath. Neither Fingal nor Waterways Ireland give a f**k.
knockoutned wrote: » Just on this, people from Delwood/Brompton would access it from either Coolmine, or Castleknock train stations, while people from Hazel Lawn/Rushbrook would technically have to access it going through Blanchardstown village, as there are no cycle access to the Roselawn Road from these estates, only pedestrian walkways. In an ideal scenario, they should be able to cycle down a Tolka greenway and join at the canal path at either Ashtown, or continue to Broombridge. But staying with this, what about someone living in any estate off Auburn Avenue or Beechpark Avenue or the new houses in the old race course who also attend these schools. Where should they access the path? I believe currently the only access is at the 12th lock, which is a mess due to construction at the tennis club and Ashtown, which at that stage you may as well stay on the Navan Road. This path has been constructed and been in use for years and yet no work on accessibility has been made.
daymobrew wrote: » Road building probably ploughs through a lot more animal habitats. We need a transport modal shift away from cars. We should not need to build greenways but motorists seem to be incapable of sharing existing road space with vulnerable road users so we have to physically protect vulnerable road users from motor vehicles. Existing roadways have extensive permeability but they are not safe for everyone.
[Deleted User] wrote: » If I was involved in any of cycling groups who currently cycle the back roads along Westmanstown and Luttrellstown that's what I'd be angling for.
Seth Brundle wrote: » Cycling groups are unlikely to use the greenway to any meaningful extent. It's really intended for tourism and commuting, not sport cycling.
Deleted User wrote: » Tourism and commuting? On your left the historic 1960's housing estates of Dublin 15, on your right the historic 1980's housing estates of Dublin 15 and in front of you a commuter furiously cycling to get home, so you better get out of his way.
Deleted User wrote: » What I don't understand about the plans is if it's a greenway from Dublin to Galway, and it must be connected, then why shoe-horn the Dublin part in along the canal just because it's the canal?
Deleted User wrote: » What I don't understand about the plans is if it's a greenway from Dublin to Galway, and it must be connected, then why shoe-horn the Dublin part in along the canal just because it's the canal? Why not consider an alternative route beginning at the Phoenix Park, through Luttrellstown and Westmanstown and connecting with the rest of the greenway there? Its obviously not an issue that the route must be along the canal, because the proposed route already diverges from that. If I was involved in any of cycling groups who currently cycle the back roads along Westmanstown and Luttrellstown that's what I'd be angling for.
mr potato head wrote: » On your left schools where children could cycle to... on your right the shop it's easier to cycle to than drive... on your left the historic Dunsink Observatory established in 1785. We are not devoid of interesting landmarks or reasons to hop on a bike
Mercian Pro wrote: » It's not just the Dublin to Galway Greenway but also the Royal Canal Greenway to Longford and Cloondara not to mention EuroVelo Route 2. Are you seriously suggesting that it should be diverted to a totally different route because it runs behind the gardens of 20 houses in Delwood Park?
RapaNui wrote: » New to this, but there appear to be some residents in the adjacent estates who DO support the greenway proposal for the North Bank between Castleknock and Coolmine (despite what the noise might tell you).
RapaNui wrote: » New to this, but there appear to be some residents in the adjacent estates who DO support the greenway proposal for the North Bank between Castleknock and Coolmine (despite what the noise might tell you). Some of them have done an analysis of the proposal, and a rebuttal of residents objections. As well as a detailed guide on how to submit your observations to the public consultation and local reps:https://bit.ly/LovelyGreenwayhttps://twitter.com/MyLovelyGrnway