COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Thursday, June 17, 2021
MOTION NO.
MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons
That this Council puts in a protection and promotion of Slade Valley Park in Saggart as a tourism spot and place of natural beauty into the development plan
REPORT:
A LEADER-funded feasibility study for the Slade Heritage Trail in the vicinity of the Swiftbrook Paper Mill 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.
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 postponed.
Public Realm advises the SDCC don’t own land here. The Heritage Officer also advises that the Slade Valley is part of the wider ‘Slade of Saggart and Crooksling Glen pNHA, so any suggested wording would need to include the need for biodiversity protection. Se notes that it is quite a sensitive landscape in the valley, so amenity and tourism would need to be appropriate to this.
It is recommended that the motion be amended to reflect the above.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the motion be amended to read as follows
‘To seek to protect the visual and landscape amenity of the Slade Valley and the Slade of Saggart and Crooksling Glen pNHA, support appropriate tourism and amenity related development in the context of the Slade of Saggart and Crooksling Glen pNHA and support the promotion of same as an area of amenity and natural beauty”