COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

QUESTION NO. 27

QUESTION: Councillor Alan Hayes

To ask the Chief Executive to make a presentation with the timeline for the actual restoration of King John's Bridge, Esker, Lucan and to make available any findings from the surveys of the bridge.

REPLY:

A full Condition structural Assessment was completed during 2018. The Report and survey drawings were finally completed by the consultant Conservation Engineer in November 2018. The condition assessment identified that there were two large sycamore roots imbedded in the bridge structure. It was recommended by the Consultant Conservation Engineer in agreement with the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer that further advice be sought from a specialist botanist and that treatment of the roots would be required immediately. During 2019 a number of treatments were injected into the roots which started the initial decay, however further assessment during May/June 2019 concluded that a further two injections were required. Unfortunately, due to the large sycamore roots and the impact they are having on the bridge structure remedial repair and conservation works have not been achievable to date.

A further assessment of the roots is being carried out at the end of September whereby the Consultant Conservation Engineer and the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer will decide on how best to progress this project and agree on an appropriate schedule of works which will depend on the rate of root decay. A programme of works will be agreed and completed with conservation works programmed for early/mid 2020 when further decay and removal of the decayed roots will be most likely.