COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

MOTION NO. 21

MOTION: Councillor D. O'Brien

"That this committee agrees that the Council should inspect and take action at the unofficial walkthrough between Castle Riada Drive and Moy Glas Lawns as this location is the site of significant anti social behaviour, illegal dumping and dangerous fires. The walk through is on land that is the responsibility of public realm."

REPORT:

The area referred to in the Motion is part of an ancient esker which traverses the Lucan area and which gives the local area its name. Historically, eskers were important routes or pathways across the country and some of these ancient trading and access routes date to early Christian times. In this case, the ancient route along the esker in Lucan developed over time and up to about ten years ago was the Lucan - Newlands Road, an important and busy local link between Lucan and Clondalkin.

As a result of the the construction of the Outer Ring Road, the esker was bisected in a north - south direction and the Lucan - Newlands Road was closed to east -west motor traffic movement. Up until the road was closed, passing motor traffic had provided both a significant level of passive supervison as well as an active deterrent to any crossing or congregating of people on the roadway. 

On the western side of the Outer Ring Road (R136), the former roadway has developed into an informal pedestrian route and a range of infomal access points have emerged between the two housing estates as well as along the line of the old roadway. As a result of the relatively secluded nature of the area, a certain level of anti-social behaviour has also developed since the road was closed to through traffic. However, the esker was identified by the Planning Department as having significant potential to provide for both pedestrian and cycle permeabilty as part of the development of sustainable transport routes in the Lucan area.

The project was funded to Part 8 stage by the National Transport Authority (NTA) and in December 2012, a PART 8 REPORT – WALKING & CYCLING ROUTE FROM GRIFFEEN ROAD TO R136, BALLYOWEN, LUCAN  was presented to the Council.

The Council approved an ammended Part 8 report with a number of changes to the Manager' Report.

An application for funding for the approved Part 8 was subsequently made to the National Transport Authority (NTA) to progress the project the route. In accordance with the Project Management Guidelines for Projects Funded by the NTA, the NTA requested a Planning Outcome Report be submitted as part of the process. Following consideration of the Planning Outcome Report submitted by the Land Use, Economic and Transport Planning Department, which included all of the ammendments made to the Manager's proposal, the NTA  advised that the Project could not be funded in the format proposed. As alternative funding could not be identified, the project did not proceed any further. 

While the Public Realm Section is currently tasked with maintenance of the area and undertakes routine cleaning, the longer term management of the former roadway to address the issues raised in the Motion would be more appropriate to the Landuse and Transportation Directorate.