COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

QUESTION NO. 28

QUESTION: Councillor Joanna Tuffy

To ask for an update on plans for conservation of the King John's Bridge, Lucan

REPLY:

As detailed in a number of motions and questions presented at previous Area Committee Meetings, a condition assessment identified that there were two large sycamore roots imbedded in the bridge structure at King Johns Bridge. 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 sycamore 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 was carried out at the end of September by the Consultant Conservation Engineer and the Councils Architectural Conservation Officer it was decided that another injection was needed, this was planned for the end of October 2019. However due to bad weather conditions at the time, the specialist botanist was unable to complete a treatment. It was decided at the time it was beneficial to wait until early spring to assess the roots and to identify any new sycamore growth for additional treatment.

The Councils Architectural Conservation Officer and Consultant Conservation Engineer have agreed to meet at the beginning of March to carry out a full inspection of the site and discuss 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 mid-2020 when further decay and removal of the decayed roots will be most likely.