COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, June 09, 2008

HEADED ITEM NO. 10

REPORT ON PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCEDURES UNDER PART 8 OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS 2001 FOR THE PROPOSED NEW BUILD COMMUNITY FACILITY AT BALLYCRAGH PARK, BALLYCULLEN, DUBLIN 24

At a meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee (1) held on 15th October 2007 it was agreed to proceed with a public consultation process for the proposed new Community Centre at Ballycragh Park, Ballycullen, Dublin 24.

Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 prescribes the requirements in respect of certain classes of proposed Local Authority Developments. The Regulations apply to the proposed works involved in the development of a new Community Centre at Ballycragh Park.

 

The proposed project is a single-storey building of 370 sq ms providing as follows –

 

 

The proposed building forms a gateway to the park, is conceived as redefining the neighbourhood centre and incorporates green building principles in many ways an eco-building. The building is inclusive and inviting in design and nature.

 

The materials proposed for the building are render timber and glass, selected paving and a green roof, conceived as a core concrete building element with moveable timber and glass screens enclosing elements allowing different combinations and permutations of spatial arrangement and will be a major inviting attraction to the park for the active and passive users. The centre will be available for a wide variety of uses for all ages and will compliment the activities and programme of events at Firhouse Community Centre and Firhouse Community School Sports Hall.

 

CONSULTATION PROCESS:

The above proposed works were advertised in accordance with Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, in the Irish Independent on Monday 4th February, 2008.

 

The scheme went on public display from Monday 4th February, 2008 to Tuesday 18th March, 2008 at:

 

·                    The offices of South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght,

 

The closing date for receipt of submissions was Wednesday 2nd April, 2008.

 

There were 195 submissions made during this period and they are summarized as follows:

 

1/ 181 submissions indicating unconditional support for the proposal as advertised from local residents of the immediate area covering the areas of Oldcourt, Ferncourt, Ballycullen View, Parklands, Allenton, Oakdale,  Wooddale Green,Daletree and Beechdale and indicating strongly the consultation that was carried out locally and the need for such a facility to compliment existing facilities in the area.

 

Response:

 

The support for the facility as proposed is noted.

 

2/ 1 submission from the Ballycragh Park Community Facility Development Group Committee indicating their full support for the proposal as advertised indicating strongly the consultation that was carried out locally and the need for such a facility to compliment existing facilities in the area.

 

Response:

 

The support of the proposed is noted.

 

3/ Sr Mary O’Neill, Parish Sister, Bohernabreena Parish, indicating her full support for the proposal and expressing her belief that the centre will provide a long awaited facility to benefit the whole community and provide a place for on-going education, personal development and recreation with family, friends and neighbours.

 

Response:

 

The support for the facility as proposed is noted.

 

4/ Ms Louise Purcell, Oakdale Park, indicating her support for the project but expressed her view that 10 car parking spaces are too much and 1-2 spaces for the anchor tenant and 1 for disabled parking should be sufficient as most users will walk to the centre.

 

Response:

It is the view that 10 spaces is the requirement from experience for the centre particularly to provide the necessary spaces for a drop-off and pickup facility for users. The car parking spaces are not for use of the playing pitches adjacent to the proposed Centre.

 

5/ Ms Mairead Flanagan, Parklands Drive, Ballycullen indicating her full support for the project and requested that a store room be also provided as part of the project to facilitate the organized local community clean ups of the Park.

 

Response:

This request for a store room can be considered as part of the detailed internal layout for the Centre.

 

6/  Mr Keith White, Oldcourt View, Firhouse objecting to the parking spaces as provided and that they were not specifically outlined in the plans and drawings as advertised, location is under a high tension electric power line and the facility will cause traffic problems particularly when there are matches on the pitches.

 

Response:

The area for the complex, the community facility and the car park spaces, is clearly outlined in the location map attached to the drawings for the proposed facility. It is the view that 10 spaces is the requirement from experience for the centre particularly to provide the necessary spaces for a drop-off and pickup facility for users. The car parking spaces are not for use of the playing pitches adjacent to the proposed Centre. The overhead high tension power line will not interfere with the location of the facility.

 

7/ Ms Tina Dunne, Oldcourt Lodge, Firhouse welcomes the proposed facility and acknowledges that the building design is attractive but expresses her disappointment with the chosen site, the number of car parking being limited to just 10 spaces which could lead to congestion on the main road and also expressed concerns on the security of the centre.

 

Response:

The Council is satisfied that the provision of 10 spaces is more than ample for this facility and point out that the car parking facilities are to service the facility particularly staff and as a pick up and drop-off facility. It will be barrier controlled and is not to facilitate use for the soccer pitches.

 

8/ Lisa Kenny, Ferncourt Avenue, Pearse Mullarkey, 14 Ferncourt Green, Roslyn and Nigel Fay, 65, Ferncourt Green and Patrick Byrne 1 Ferncourt Avenue and Rita and Aaron Heavey, 22 Ferncourt Avenue, Firhouse expressed their opposition to the proposal on the following grounds:

·        There is no need for a further community facility when Firhouse and St Anne’s Club are already within walking distance

·        10 car parking spaces are too much and the committee only requested 2 and this would greatly reduce the playing and walking facilities of the Park

·        The vehicular access will have a dangerous and negative effect on the pedestrians using the park and permanent access will allow undesirables full access to the park

·        Priority should be afforded to better facilities for the Holy Rosary School

·        The park has already been diminished as it was meant to be larger and is now to be reduced again

 

Response:

The proposed centre which is single storey building will greatly enhance the park and usage of the park particularly the passive usage and will also compliment the existing facilities of the Firhouse Community Centre and the School Sports complex by providing a long awaited facility for on-going education, personal development and recreation with family, friends and neighbours that will be a benefit to the whole community. It is the view that 10 spaces is the requirement from experience for the centre particularly to provide the necessary spaces for a drop-off and pickup facility for users. The car parking spaces are not for use of the playing pitches adjacent to the proposed Centre and will be barrier protected.  A CCTV system will also be installed as part of the project. The proposal will not interfere with or encroach on any existing playing facilities.

 

9/ Colin Thomson, Oldcourt View, Firhouse Road registered his opposition to the proposal on the grounds generalized as follows:

·        Enhancement of existing local facilities would be more sustainable

·        Reduces public open space and introduces traffic access into the park

·        The Community Facility Development Group is made up of some residents who are committed to the provision of a community facility rather than representation of local community.

·        Information provided regarding the proposal has been untimely, partial, vague, inaccurate, missing or difficult to access particularly in relation to car parking spaces.

 

Response:

The proposed centre which is single storey building will greatly enhance the park and usage of the park particularly the passive usage and will also compliment the existing facilities of the Firhouse Community Centre and the School Sports complex by providing a long awaited facility for on-going education, personal development and recreation with family, friends and neighbours that will be a benefit to the whole community. The facility will compliment existing facilities rather than replace or compete with them and will be an added feature to the Park for passive users in particular. The proposal will not interfere with or encroach on any existing playing facilities.

It is the view that 10 spaces is the requirement from experience for the centre particularly to provide the necessary spaces for a drop-off and pickup facility for users. The car parking spaces are not for use of the playing pitches adjacent to the proposed Centre and will be barrier protected.  A CCTV system will also be installed as part of the project.

The Council has no concerns on the representational value of the Development Committee and has been working with the group for many years on this project with appropriate expertise and this view is enhanced by the large number of submissions in support of the facility as proposed.

The above proposed works were advertised in accordance with Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, in the Irish Independent on Monday 4th February, 2008.

 

The scheme went on public display from Monday 4th February, 2008 to Tuesday 18th March, 2008 at:

 

·                    The offices of South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght,

 

The closing date for receipt of submissions was Wednesday 2nd April, 2008.

 

The location of the proposal indicating the entire area was highlighted in the drawings as advertised and on display. It was never envisaged that the proposed 10 car parking spaces would be outside of this area. The notice also clearly indicated that the proposal included 10 car parking spaces.

 

 

10/ Ciara Whelan and Stuart Keegan, 91 Parklands Court have objected on the grounds that the facility will impair their view of the park, there is a community centre across the road, there is already extensive graffiti in the area and this will also effect the facility and that the existing anti-social behaviour will increase with the introduction of the community facility.

 

Response:

 The proposed centre which is single storey building will greatly enhance the park and usage of the park particularly the passive usage and will also compliment the existing facilities of the Firhouse Community Centre and the School Sports complex by providing a long awaited facility for on-going education, personal development and recreation with family, friends and neighbours that will be a benefit to the whole community. The proposal will not interfere with or encroach on any existing playing facilities.

In relation to anti-social behaviour in the park officials from the Parks Department have met with a Representative of the Parklands Residents Association recently to explore means of preventing anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the bridge and bin store to the rear of Parklands Court. The CCTV system incorporated into the proposed Community Centre will assist in combating such behaviour.

There is also a well-established desire line of usage to and from Parklands Court and Ballycragh Park via the pedestrian access gate providing an element of passive supervision which is a deterrent to those with anti-social intent. It was agreed that the most effective course of action would be a re-design of the area and the following actions were proposed:

- The Parks Department to carry out pruning and clearing of the hedgerow along the stream on both sides of the bridge to increase passive supervision of the area and to reduce the amount of screening and cover anti-social behaviour and this work has commenced.

- The location of the existing bin store obstructs views into the park and the rear wall provides cover and shelter on the park side for those congregating.

The Residents Association is exploring the feasibility of relocating the bin store to a more central overlooked location within the development.  It is the view of the Parks Department that anti–social behaviour will continue to be an issue at this location until this matter is resolved.

The Parks Department continues to liaise with the local Gardaí in dealing with anti social behaviour at this location.

 

11/ Ciara Bates, Chairperson Parklands Resident Association, Parklands Drive express strong objections on the grounds that a large corner of the park will be eradicated as this space is used by football clubs, softball teams etc., there is already a large community centre situated across the road from the proposal and the anti-social behaviour that already exists with large groups of youths using the park to socialize and drink.

 

Response:

 

The proposed centre will compliment the existing facilities of the Firhouse Community Centre and the School Sports complex by providing a long awaited facility for on-going education, personal development and recreation with family, friends and neighbours that will be a benefit to the whole community. The proposal will not interfere with or encroach on any existing playing facilities.

In relation to anti-social behaviour in the park officials from the Parks Department have met with a Representative of the Parklands Residents Association recently to explore means of preventing anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the bridge and bin store to the rear of Parklands Court. The CCTV system incorporated into the proposed Community Centre will assist in combating such behaviour.

There is also a well-established desire line of usage to and from Parklands Court and Ballycragh Park via the pedestrian access gate providing an element of passive supervision which is a deterrent to those with anti-social intent. It was agreed that the most effective course of action would be a re-design of the area and the following actions were proposed:

- The Parks Department to carry out pruning and clearing of the hedgerow along the stream on both sides of the bridge to increase passive supervision of the area and to reduce the amount of screening and cover anti-social behaviour and this work has commenced.

- The location of the existing bin store obstructs views into the park and the rear wall provides cover and shelter on the park side for those congregating.

The Residents Association is exploring the feasibility of relocating the bin store to a more central overlooked location within the development.  It is the view of the Parks Department that anti–social behaviour will continue to be an issue at this location until this matter is resolved.

The Parks Department continues to liaise with the local Gardaí in dealing with anti social behaviour at this location.

 

As the vast majority of the submissions to the project are fully supportive of the proposal and as the proposed works are consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and the South Dublin County Development Plan 2004 – 2010, it is recommended to proceed with the proposed works as advertised and subject to the identification and sourcing of the necessary balance of funding for the project.

 

Drawings and Elevations are available at:  http://www.sdublincoco.ie/index.aspx?pageid=939&pid=13981