COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

MOTION NO. 12

MOTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

"That the Chief Executive  present a report to the committee for discussion confirming the amount of money paid by NRA/BAM to SDCC on completion of the Newlands Cross flyover; to confirm what the Council intends to use this money for; and to consider using a portion of this money to provide additional mitigation measures for those residents of Newlands Road whom have been most negatively affected during the construction phase and by the absence of a visual screen as required by the An Bord Pleanála ruling."

REPORT:

Neither BAM nor the NRA made any payment to SDCC on completion of the Newlands Cross Overpass. Any money paid by BAM during the works was for invoiced works carried out by SDCC on the scheme. Likewise any money paid by the NRA (during the works) was for costs incurred by the Council in connection with the scheme.

The NRA has confirmed that a financial allocation will be made available to SDCC, post completion of all works by the Contractor so that SDCC Parks Department can supplement the contract landscaping at Boot Road, Belgard Road and Fonthill Road junctions, as requested by Clondalkin Tidy Towns Group. Payment of these monies is dependent on a proposal from SDCC to the approval of the NRA. SDCC Parks Department is currently assessing this situation. This money, if paid, will be used strictly for the purpose for which it was allocated.

The NRA has already provided substantial additional mitigation measures to the rear of those properties on Newlands Road namely

• The 2.5m high boundary wall to the rear of Newlands Road properties was extended beyond that required by the ABP condition, as far as No. 53 Newlands Road;
• The species of tree planted in the verge along the service road to the rear of the properties was changed to one with a greater spread and faster growth;
• The height of the trees planted between No. 25 and 53 Newlands Road were in excess of 7m, instead of the 5m height specified in the Schedule of Commitments;
• The number of trees planted between No. 25 and 53 Newlands Road was doubled from that originally specified as a result of reducing the spacing between trees from 10m to 5m;
• The 1.8m high noise barrier on the road embankment was extended by over 40m (from that conditioned by ABP) to provide additional screening and noise mitigation to adjacent properties;
• The Contractor replaced existing trees that were removed from gardens to facilitate the construction of the boundary wall (where agreed with the property owner in advance of commencing works to the wall).

The statement made in the Final Schedule of Commitments is that “The additional landscape measures proposed of semi-mature broadleaf tree plantings to the south of the rear boundaries of houses on Newlands Road will in time create a visual screen”. {emphasis added}.

It is inevitable that constructing an interchange of the size and complexity of the Newlands Cross Upgrade will cause disruption to road users and local residents alike. The Council is of the view that those residents of Newlands Road were no more adversely affected by the Works than any other affected persons.

The NRA has confirmed that it is satisfied that the Newlands Cross Upgrade Scheme has been delivered in compliance with An Bord Pleanala conditions and the commitments given in the EIS and Final Schedule of Commitments.