COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TERENURE-RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE 1

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

MOTION NO. 10

MOTION: Councillor C. Keane

"That this Committee recommends that we discuss with the aid of a report the construction of the Green Route and all the issues associated with it as raised by local residents i.e. the route from Taylors Lane to Grange Road outlining if all the various issues as raised have been addressed. Also to give a report on the second meeting that was agreed with the residents representatives for October."

REPORT:

Construction of the Green Route commenced in October 2006 and is envisaged to be substantially complete in late 2007 / early 2008. The scheme includes;

• the provision of dedicated footpaths and cycle tracks along the entire length of the scheme;
• upgrade of services infrastructure including ESB, Eircom, water, drainage, public lighting, etc;
• two additional pedestrian crossings along Taylor's Lane;
• the upgrade of Fortification Hill (which was previously deficient in respect of vertical and horizontal alignment, with absence of dedicated footpaths / cycletracks) including the provision of a new signallised junction at Grange Road capable of incorporating all traffic movements and including pedestrian facilities;
• the provision of bus lanes as recently approved by the Members.

• and the improvement of noise and pollution characteristics, as a new low noise road surface is to be constructed as part of the proposed works.

When complete the new Green Route will be a significant improvement on the former alignment, and will provide a much safer and efficient facility for local residents, pedestrians, public transport users and motorists.This project fully supports and indeed is a fundamental component of the Ballyboden Village Plan. The improvement in terms of safety matters and elimination of bottlenecks and more efficient public transport in the local road infrastructure now enables the increased densities and development essential to the success of the Ballyboden Village Plan. Without this road scheme the Ballyboden Village Plan could not proceed.

The scope and extent of the works were determined in the Formal Approval, in May 2001, of the Part 10 Public Consultation process. The lands to be acquired were determined under the CPO process, confirmed in October 2004. Where lands were acquired, accommodation works and boundary treatments were agreed with the landowners as part of compensation settlements. There are no statutory provisions to compensate for disruption to local residents or commercial outlets not included in the CPO process. It is important to remember that the scope of the roads project as undertaken by the contractor does not purport to address wider issues such as the provision of public spaces and associated street furniture etc, or the provision af new boundaries to properties not affected by the CPO process.

As with all road construction projects built in a live pedestrian and traffic environment, a degree of inconvenience and disruption was experienced by residents and motorists, caused principally by temporary traffic delays, access to adjacent residences as works progressed locally, noise and vibrations. The Council is cognisant of the temporary disruption and inconvenience to local residents that this scheme brings with it, and we are endeavouring to minimise these issues, but unfortunately some inconvenience is largely unavoidable. Public safety is of the highest priority and concern to us and temporary works are constantly monitored to ensure that they comply with the terms of the Contract.

Matters of concern to residents are addressed promptly. Those properties affected by the CPO have had their boundaries replaced to the owner's satisfaction as part of the compensation settlement. Verge treatments at Newbrook estate will be carried out in accordance with the wishes of the residents, i.e. either grass or manitenance-free paving. Bollards will be provided at Moyville Lawns as requested by the residents.

Meetings with representatives from local resident's associations have been arranged for Friday 26th October 2007 to discuss matters/concerns related to the construction works on the Green Route