MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 08, 2016
QUESTION NO. 2
QUESTION: Councillor S. Holland
"To ask the Chief Executive what maintenance measures are in place for the cycle path between Grange Road and Nutgrove shopping centre?"
REPLY:
"South Dublin County Council, in association with the National Transport Authority (NTA), aims to create more sustainable local neighbourhoods by providing direct pedestrian and cycle links to popular local destinations and amenities.
Under the NTAs Sustainable Transport Measures Grants Programme, the Council secured funding to deliver a new pedestrian/ cycle greenway in Rathfarnham, connecting Grange Road to Nutgrove via the Barton Road Extension/Grange Manor Road. This project involved working in close partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, across whose boundary the Greenway extends. This new Greenway offers easier and more comfortable pedestrian access to local facilities such as St. Enda’s Park and Nutgrove Shopping Centre, as well as facilitating commuter cycling and access to additional bus routes. Over 90,000 cyclists have cycled the Greenway since its opening in September 2014.
A wildflower meadow has been cultivated along the Greenway as part of the landscape plan for the walkway/cycle route. The low fertility environment of the soils along the route lend themselves to such wildflower cover. A seed mix of cornfield and meadow flowering species was chosen in order to give maximum colour for users of the Greenway and to offer a biodiversity corridor for flowering plants, insects and birds. The site is being managed to ensure an attractive wildflower display in future years. Flowering species are being allowed to set seed naturally before the entire area is cut back at the end of the season. Soils will also be scarified to aid seed germination and growth of cornfield species for next year’s colourful display. The ongoing maintenance of wildflower meadows require occasional disturbance and re-cultivation of the soil, which allows annual flowers to re-establish for the following year. This takes place in the autumn/winter period and will be part of an annual regime.
Due to the low fertility of the soils along the Greenway, it takes some time to establish a well-developed meadow with good ground coverage. A contractor has been tendered to carry out the tasks outlined above and it is hoped to appoint them shortly."