COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor S. O'Hara

"That this Area Committee gets an update on the proposed Slade Valley Heritage Trail and fully endorses this concept."

REPORT:

A LEADER-funded feasibility study for the Slade Heritage Trail was prepared in 2014 under the County Heritage Plan. This study identified a potential route for a Heritage Trail that would commence in Rathcoole Park, follow a path through Saggart and then proceed southwards up through the Slade Valley to finish at the Brittas Ponds.

The objective of the Heritage Trail was to raise the profile of the abundant natural and cultural heritage assets of this part of the County, to reintroduce a sense of connection and community between the villages of Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas, and to identify possible opportunities for local tourism initiatives along the Trail.

In the intervening time since the study was completed, a degree of success has been achieved along the first section of the proposed Trail, between Rathcoole and Saggart. A well-used route is currently being followed by locals which connects Rathcoole Park to the Crossforge/Millrace Estate in Saggart. Issues of Taking in Charge exist for the Estate, so the formalisation of the Heritage Trail Route at this location is ongoing.

A permitted access route was also successfully negotiated in recent years around the Saggart Reservoir, during the upgrade and transference of assets of this reservoir to Irish Water. For this section, leeway for a path to follow around the southern end of the property to facilitate the Heritage Trail was agreed during the transfer of assets. This section cannot be used at the moment, however, as connectivity issues exist at the entrance to the Reservoir lands from Castle Road on the western end, and at the exit of the path to Slade Road/Soldiers Road on the eastern side.

Much of the remaining half of the proposed Heritage Trail route is more difficult to progress. The proposed Trail proceeds southwards along a disused road through the wooded Slade Valley, before crossing the N81 to finish at the Brittas Ponds. Although local people access the Slade Valley for walking purposes, much of the Valley and the land around the Brittas Ponds is in private ownership. Also, the required crossing of the N81 to the private lands around the Brittas Ponds requires detailed assessment from a safety point of view.

Ecological studies did not form part of the brief for the original feasibility study, so any progression of the proposed Trail (particularly through the sensitive habitats of the Slade Valley and around the Brittas Ponds) would be needed as these locations form the core areas of the proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA) of the ‘Slade of Saggart and Crooksling Glen’.