COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
MOTION NO 27.
MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle, Councillor V. Casserly
"That this Committee noting the ongoing serious concerns in relation to scarring of the scenic vista of the River Liffey Valley from our County as a result of ongoing works to the areas behind and around Weirview cottages; and further noting the serious concerns of residents of our County following a recent rock fall from the cliff behind Weirview (Sunday 7th May); therefore calls on the Chief Executive to provide a detailed report, for discussion, on:
- The nature and outcome of the engagement to date with Fingal County Council as a result of motion 52285 which was considered at both the January Area Committee meeting and the February Council meeting and which sought for engagement with Fingal County Council with a view to “ensure the preservation of both the landscape character and the biodiversity of the Liffey Valley in the area to the west of Lucan Bridge, including particularly the areas on top of and to either side of the cliff to the rear of Weirview Cottages”; and
- The possible extension of the 1990 Special Area Amenity Order (which stops at Lucan Bridge) to areas west of the bridge, including all lands south of the river zoned as Objective HA-LV and all lands north of the river below the top of the escarpment of the river valley, as far west as the footbridge from Lucan Demesne to St. Catherine’s Park which marks the western extent of Fingal County Council who are an existing party to the SAAO (general map of proposed area attached); with the aim of enhancing the preservation of the River Liffey Valley in this area including de-exempting certain classes of development which at present represent a serious threat to the environmental and visual amenity of the river valley."
REPORT:
As per the correspondence received from Fingal County Council dated 7th April 2017, a number of dangerous trees were removed from the embankment to the rear of Weirview Cottages on the instruction of Fingal County Council. The correspondence has also advised that an enforcement file has been opened in respect of developments at the rear of Weirview Cottages and remains under review.
The governance arrangements for the Liffey Valley SAAO are under review as advised to the Committee in September 2016 and January 2017. Discussions have previously been undertaken with Fingal County Council to ascertain the most suitable approach taking into account the nature of the SAAO area and the SAAO Order. At present, the issue is under active consideration within South Dublin County Council.
As previously advised to the ACM, it is an objective of the National Landscape Strategy 2015-2025 to prepare a national landscape character assessment. Work on this project has recently commenced, however, draft documents are not yet available. It is an objective of the National Landscape Strategy to produce guidelines on local landscape character assessments which also remain outstanding at this time in addition to regional landscape character assessments. The Liffey Valley traverses a number of council jurisdictions and it is considered important that an agreed approach is taken as to the appropriate boundary for the area and best manner of conserving the unique characteristics of the Valley. These assessments and guidelines would provide a framework which could be used to consider the extent of the area of the Liffey Valley which can be considered to represent a defined landscape character, the nature and characteristics of the area and would inform decisions regarding the extent and nature of any landscape designation for the Valley. It is considered to be premature at this stage to consider extending the SAAO in the absence of these studies and guidelines.