COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Thursday, February 04, 2016

MOTION NO. 154

MOTION: Councillor F.N. Duffy

On page 104  Policy 3  Replace Objective 1 with: Create, provide, promote, improve, develop, sustain, support, enhance, encourage and facilitate walking, rambling and cycling as appropriate recreational and tourism activities by identifying more dedicated walking and cycling routes to enable the creation of a high quality dedicated comprehensive network of safe cycling/walking routes and tourist trails(including looped walks, local walks, community walks and medium/long distance walks)and the public/rural footpath network, in rural areas (including suitable linear lands along  established rights of way, strategic green corridors and other off-road routes) linking communities to key destinations, amenities and leisure activities and exploiting  their vast recreational and tourist potential(including international tourists). Map suitable recreational routes and promote and facilitate the development of such routes having cognisance of national policy. Enhance and extend existing routes, byutilising links from residential areas through parks and open spaces to link with existing waymarked trails and facilitate a green infrastructure network and linking with Sli na Slainte and existing or new public rights of way and the Green Infrastructure network to provide access to scenic, mountain, lakeshore and river features and views of special interest, particularly where these have a historical association. The development of various cycling/walking routes have helped to open up diverse landscapes and promote tourism. Off-road walkways can be established by informal, formal agreements with landowners or by acquisition. Support proposals that improve pedestrian routes and that improve and develop walking and cycle networks. 

REPORT:

TM3 Objective 1 states:

‘To create a comprehensive and legible County-wide network of cycling and walking routes that link communities to key destinations, amenities and leisure activates’

The proposed amendment to TM3 Objective 1 incorporates a number of subject matters that are addressed throughout Draft Plan.  These issues are responded to individually below in relation to transport and mobility Issues related to tourism, green infrastructure, landscape and public rights of way are addressed in relation to the relevant chapters of the Draft Plan.   

Cycle Network

(TM) Policy 3 Walking and Cycling of the Draft Plan also contains a number of objectives that seek to improve cyclist mobility across the County. A number of Actions listed under this policy also refer to the implementation of additional cycle links, namely to ‘work with the NTA to assist and secure funding for the ongoing implementation of the County Strategic Cycle Network’.

Table 6.4 - Six Year Cycle Network Programme nominates Council’s priorities for the implementation of the Strategic Cycling Network.  This will provide for new links along a variety of roads and streets (including the upgrade of existing links which are assessed to be inadequate), including Green Routes which generally pass through interlinked areas parklands that form part of the County’s open space network

Greenways and Rural Areas

Section 6.3.0 is predominantly concerned with walking and cycling in urban areas, as this is where, by far, the greatest levels of pedestrian and cyclist activity within the County take place (at present and into the future).  Notwithstanding this, the development of a number of Greenways will directly benefit rural/urban fringe urban communities, in particular the Liffey Valley (Strawberry Beds area), Dodder (Bohernabreena area) and Grand Canal Greenways (Hazelhatch area).  One of the actions listed under (TM) Policy 3 Walking and Cycling states that Council will:

‘Adopt a County-wide signage scheme for motorists, in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual, warning of the presence of pedestrians and cyclists along rural roads’

The development of a number of Greenways will also directly benefit rural/urban fringe urban communities, in particular the Liffey Valley (Strawberry Beds area), Dodder (Bohernabreena area) and Grand Canal Greenways (Hazelhatch area).

Mapping

The level of information illustrated on the Draft Plan 2016-2022 Maps (and within the Draft Plan more generally) is comprehensive.  A balance needs to be found in regard to the illustration of detailed Ordinance Survey information and strategic direction to ensure that the maps are legible.  Furthermore detailed maps regarding walking and cycling routes (and other information) are already available from multiple sources, such as the Ordinance Survey Discovery Series.  Detailed maps of the existing and proposed cycle lanes though metropolitan and rural Dublin (and adjoining counties) are contained within the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan.

Local Permeability

(TM) Policy 3 Walking and Cycling of the Draft Plan 2016-2022 includes a number of objectives that seek to increase pedestrian and cyclist accessibility to key services and locations.  One of the listed Actions of this policy is to:  

‘Reduce walking and cycling distances to areas of employment, community services, schools, shops, public transport and other community facilities through the delivery of Local Permeability Improvements within existing communities’

This Action is further detailed Section 6.3.2 Local Permeability Improvements which make reference to work undertaken in conjunction with the NTA. This included the preparation of the Appraisal and Prioritisation of Proposed Permeability Projects Study, which examines levels of connectivity within communities and identifies potential walking and cycling links within communities throughout the County. 

(TM) Policy 3 Walking and Cycling of the Draft Plan also contains a number of objectives that seek to improve cyclist mobility across the County. A number of Actions listed under this policy also refer to the implementation of additional cycle links, namely to ‘work with the NTA to assist and secure funding for the ongoing implementation of the County Strategic Cycle Network’.

Table 6.4 - Six Year Cycle Network Programme nominates Council’s priorities for the implementation of the Strategic Cycling Network.  This will provide for new links along a variety of roads and streets (including the upgrade of existing links which are assessed to be inadequate), including Green Routes which generally pass through interlinked areas parklands that form part of the County’s open space network. 

Local communities have been engaged via various consultation processes during the preparation of all cycle network and permeability projects carried out to date in the County. This process included consultation undertaken at an early stage to allow findings to be considered prior to detailed designs being proposed.

With regard to future studies, SDCC would welcome the review and expansion of the Initial Appraisal Document via a ‘whole of catchment’ multi-agency approach that closely links all major public transport services to permeability projects such as those funded through the Green School/ Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) proces

Minor Works

Requests for new/improved footpaths, crossings and other localised pedestrian facilities, referenced in submissions received, are a non-strategic issue and are, therefore, not a matter for the County Development Plan.

It is acknowledged that the proposed amendment is meritorious, however as demonstrated above, the proposed amendment would result in a significant degree of duplication within the Development Plan.   The proposed wording contained in the subject motion is also protracted and difficult to decipher and as such is not consistent with policy contained with ‘Taking Steps to be a Literacy Friendly Local Authority’ (SDCC and National Adult Literacy Agency, 2012) in relation to the use of simple, plain and clear language that is literacy friendly. This may lead to difficulties and confusion in the application of the Plan and therefore the proposed wording cannot be supported.

Recommendation

It is recommended that this motion is not adopted