COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

MOTION NO.  6

MOTION: Councillor C. Keane

 

"That this Committee discuss the new proposed opening to service the Bus Stop adjacent to the Heath Prospect Manor."

REPORT:  

The objective of the proposed Scheme is to provide traffic calming measures on Stocking Lane primarily to slow north bound traffic from the M50 bridge to the entrance to Prospect Manor, and to provide a footpath and off-road cycle-track from the M50 bridge to Scholarstown Road.

The current location of the south bound bus-stop adjacent to Prospect Manor was determined by Dublin Bus in conjunction with the Gardai. SDCC considers the location to be satisfactory, given its proximity to the nearby signallised pedestrian crossing; hence neither Dublin Bus, An Gardai, nor SDCC recommends its relocation.

 The current entrance to the signallised pedestrian crossing will remain open, i.e. pedestrians from Prospect Manor will continue to use Prospect Heath to access the existing crossing.

 The proposed path from the back of the bus-stop to the existing footpath in Prospect Heath will improve safety for pedestrians from Prospect Manor who wish to use the Bus service. It is proposed to install a pedestrian gate at this location to provide a higher level of safety for children.

 There would seem to be no reason to either move the bus-stop closer to the pedestrian crossing (attempting to cross the road near the rear of the bus could reduce sightlines for pedestrians wanting to cross the road), or to move it to the other side of the entrance to Prospect Manor (thereby increasing the distance to the signallised crossing), both suggestions thereby creating difficulties of their own which neither An Gardai, Dublin Bus nor SDCC support.

 It is not envisaged that the proposed arrangement will present a hazard. It is not envisaged that children will cross the road at the south bound bus stop any more than they currently may do for instance, at the existing entrance, which does not seem to present a problem to date. The proposed provision of a pedestrian swing gate should reduce the likelihood of children running straight onto the road at the bus-stop.

 The current proposal to provide a footpath into Prospect Heath is the most economical and practical way to enhance the safety of pedestrians using the bus-stop. SDCC has been cognisant of the need to retain the rural characteristics of Stocking Lane and is of the view that unnecessary removal of trees and hedging at Prospect Manor will detract from this objective.