COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 23rd, 2017

HEADED ITEM NO.15b)

HEADED ITEM: C. Performance and Change Management Directorate

APPROVAL OF PART 8 DODDER GREENWAY

The Part 8 as outlined proposes to develop a Dodder Greenway route scheme within South Dublin County including proposed bridges at Orwell Park and Bushy Park, a portion of which are in Dublin City Council lands. The proposed Greenway will be subject to a landscape plan, signage plan and ecological and environmental enhancements for the proposed greenway route. All ancillary works are included in the proposals.

An Ecological Impact Assessment Report has been prepared in respect of the proposed works. The proposed Scheme has undergone Appropriate Assessment Screening under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and a determination has been made that a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment will not be required. The proposed Scheme has undergone Environmental Impact Assessment Screening under the EIA Directive 2014/52/EU and a determination has been made that an Environmental Impact Assessment will not be required.

The Part 8 proposals were presented at a meeting with locally elected members prior to commencement of Part 8 with a presentation to the Dublin City South East Area Committee Meeting (ACM), City Hall on the 12th June 2017 and to the Rathfarnham, Terenure, Templeogue Area Committee Members and Tallaght Area Committee members on the 13th June 2017.

The proposed development and accompanying Appropriate Assessment report were placed on public display for the statutory period from Thursday 22nd of June to Friday 18th of August 2017.

The closing date for receipt of written submissions was up to 4.00pm on Friday the 18th of August 2017 and were to be addressed in writing to: Senior Executive Officer, Forward Planning Section, Land Use, Planning and Transportation, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24 or via South Dublin’s on-line consultation portal: http://consult.sdublincoco.ie

Copies of the plans and particulars of the proposed scheme proposed scheme were available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy from Thursday 22nd of June to Friday 18th of August.

Submissions and observations on the Part 8 Proposed Dodder Greenway Route could be made online and in writing to the addresses below between Thursday 22nd of June to Friday 18th of August inclusive (excluding Public Holidays) as follows;

A total of 49 submissions were received by the closing date for public consultation.

The attached CE report summarises the submissions, responses and recommendation. 

Following consideration of the submissions the Chief Executive is of the view that the issues raised by way of the submissions can be satisfactorily addressed as outlined in the foregoing report.

Amongst the other recommendations the following is included in the report in relation to Orwell Bridge:

“As part of the detailed design stage the Orwell Bridge will be subject to further liaison with both Councils Architectural Conservation Officers for comment and agreement prior to final design to ensure that the overall design, materials and finishes take cognisance of the adjacent protected structure ensuring that the overall visual effect of the bridge at this location is kept to a minimum and this can be achieved by good overall design and use of appropriate materials. The council agrees to further consult with relevant stakeholders prior to completion of the final design.”

In relation to the Dodder Valley Cherryfield area the Council notes the following:

In relation to Dodder Valley Cherryfield area and the accommodation of the existing dog walkers within that locality; the council is cognisant of the positive use of the parkland by many dog owners in this vicinity and view the use of parkland by responsible dog owners as a very welcome and necessary component of any park. Dog walkers tend to be very regular and frequent visitors and provide welcome activity and create a sense of community in a park. Concerns were raised by many of the current users of the park who walk their dogs in this area that the Greenway would be incompatible with their current use of the park. The Dodder Greenway will be a universally accessible route. It is designed as a shared pedestrian / cyclist environment and will not be designed as a route for high speed cyclists. The Greenway will facilitate shared use by pedestrians and cyclists and users of all ages and abilities in a pedestrian priority environment.

Just to note the following definition of a Greenway:

“Greenways are communication routes reserved exclusively for non-motorised journeys, developed in an integrated manner which enhances both the environment and quality of life of the surrounding area. These routes should meet satisfactory standards of width, gradient and surface condition to ensure that they are both user-friendly and low-risk for users of all abilities.

(Lille Declaration, European Greenways Association, 12th September 2000).”

Many of the submissions referred to above requested the inclusion of an approved dogs off leash walking facility. The Council has investigated this request and has identified a significantly sized space within the Cherryfield  area that could be utilised for this purpose and have included the consideration of same (subject to ecological assessment) within the Part 8 report.

The recent suggestion (outside of the submission process) to rail off a significant portion of the greenway from the surrounding parkland would be a significant departure from the Part 8 greenway proposal that was presented within the public consultation process. This suggestion would not be in keeping with the above definition of the greenway and in connecting the route to the parkland and vice versa. This would rail off the Greenway from its surroundings and make people entering into one end of a railed Greenway feel vulnerable to being trapped. This portion of the Dodder Valley also contains a number of protected species and there would be a concern that the proposed extensive section of fencing on both sides of the footpath through the Dodder Valley would divide the parkland in half and would limit their access to foraging or nesting ground. This would have an impact on their numbers and impinge on the ecological corridors / trails that currently exist. Fencing off the Greenway would also be a significant expense, the fence would look unattractive in the parkland, would be uninviting to users and would by necessity limit access on and off it to designated (presumably gated) entrance points. The greenway is proposed to be in parkland as much as possible; and one of the main features of the greenway would be to allow people access to the parkland it will go through.

The detailed design stage will further examine ways to mitigate against excessive speeds by cyclists and will examine the use of such initiatives such as pedestrian and cycle counters and speed monitors at critical locations. Should the greenway be subject to excessive cycle commuting pressures the provision of additional alternative routes will be considered. It should be noted that within South Dublin County Council there has been a programme of cycle network delivery, which has delivered cycle routes over a number of years. This programme is ongoing and primarily aimed at facilitating commuters and other cyclists. The Greenway may accommodate commuting in a low speed, park land environment but will be designed to ensure it will not be dominated by it.

It should be noted that with the increase in infill housing and new development within the county generally there is a need for recreational facilities to accommodate the recreational requirements of our growing population and ensure activity is incorporated as much as possible into our increasingly sedentary lifestyles. The recent number of Part 8s for the Dodder Valley alone highlight this need. There are already a number of existing facilities (sports pitches and currently an athletics track) within the Cherryfield section of Dodder Valley and it is hoped that other facilities can be developed in the coming years, subject to funding and ecological evaluation. Cycling is already permitted within this parkland and it is appropriate that it be facilitated in as safe a manner as possible for all visitors to the park. It is highly unlikely that this area can be preserved for a single activity and reasonable accommodation of a variety of recreational activities would seem to be reasonable in this regard. The provision of a large scale off-leash dog area (subject to ecological assessment) as recommended in the Part 8 report would seem to be an appropriate compromise. The detailed design stage will ensure cycling occurs at a low speed through this area and the council will ensure that the area is appropriately signed, warning cyclists of the likelihood of dog walkers in the area and dog walkers of the presence of cyclists, and requesting all visitors to be respectful and mindful of other users of the park. It should be noted that the provision of lighting which is proposed along with the Greenway Part 8 proposals will provide a lit path for dog walkers and will allow them to extend their current hours of walking in the park; similarly the proposed CCTV. And both these proposals have been welcomed by many of the existing Cherryfield dog walkers who made submissions to the Part 8 process.

It is recommended that, as the proposal is consistent with and promotes proper planning and sustainable development, that the Council proceed with the Part 8 proposal, for a Dodder Greenway route scheme within South Dublin County including proposed bridges at Orwell Park and Bushy Park, a portion of which are in Dublin City Council lands.