COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

QUESTION NO. 24

 

To ask for an update in relation to the assessment of King John's Bridge and the making of a plan of works to conserve the bridge, and would it be possible to brief councillors at some stage on site, or at an area committee by the team tasked with conservation, so that councillors can be fully informed to them to update residents?

REPLY:

A full Condition Assessment was carried out during 2018. The Report and survey drawings were completed by the consultant Conservation Engineer in November 2018. The condition assessment identified that there were two large sycamore roots embedded in the bridge structure. It was recommended by the Consultant Conservation Engineer in agreement with the Council's 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 further injections may be 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 was carried out at the end of September by the Consultant Conservation Engineer and the Council's Architectural Conservation Officer. It was decided that another injection was needed which is planned for Mid-October after further discussion with the botanist. After further root treatment is completed the Council's Architectural Conservation Officer and Consultant Conservation Engineer 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 repair works programmed for early/mid 2020 when further decay and removal of the decayed roots will be most likely.  Once a work programme and schedule has been agreed, the Council's Architectural Conservation Officer who is managing this project, will provide a further update.  Please note that the Architectural Conservation Officer provides ongoing updates to the communication section under the Have Your Say initiative.