COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING
Tuesday, March 01, 2022
MOTION NO.65
MOTION: Councillor B. Lawlor, Councillor S. O'Hara
This motion refers to Chapter 7 Sustainable Movement and to Table 7.5 referred to on page 54, 96 and 696, various submissions including SD-C195-64 That the description and function of the Western Dublin Orbital Route as set out in the Draft County Development Plan is retained.
Submitted by Cllr Shirley O'Hara and Cllr Brian Lawlor
REPORT:
The motion seeks that the description of the Western Dublin Orbital Route as previously set out in the published Draft County Development Plan is retained to read as follows:
Description: New Road from N81 to the Leixlip Interchange.
Function: New Road from N81 to the Link between the N81, N7 and the N4 with a route Leixlip Interchange by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart. The need for this route, further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities. In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine’s Park and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.
The requests for the description and function of this road proposal to be amended were submitted to the Draft Plan through the public consultation period under submissions SD-C195-270, SD-C195-248, SD-C195-255 and under the National Transport Authority under submission SD-C195-245. The Chief Executive responded to the NTA submission pgs. 94-96 and under section 2.3 and Chapter 7: Road Network pgs. 699-701 recommending that the Description and Function be amended to read as follows:
Description-New Road from the N7 to the N4 with a potential extension to the N81.
Function - New Road to link between the N7 and the N4 Leixlip Interchange with a route by-pass function around Rathcoole and Saggart and the potential for a further extension of this route from the N7 to the N81. The function of this route would be to provide resilience to the M50 in particular between the N7 and N4 and further connections and possible alternative routes will be determined through the review of the NTA’s GDA Strategy and in consultation with TII and relevant local authorities.
In any such route a primary objective of South Dublin County Council shall be to protect environmentally sensitive areas including the scenic Liffey Valley parklands, and amenities at Lucan Demesne and St Catherine’s Park and Lucan Village and no proposals to continue a road over these lands will be considered.
The reasoning for this recommended amendment as set out in the CE report was in recognition to the points raised by the NTA in regard to the function of this route between the N7 and N4 being to provide resilience to the M50 and the requirements for this route to be protected from inappropriate development which may compromise this function. It was further noted that the extension of this route from the N7 to the N81 would need to be demonstrated against the Transport Strategy’s objectives.
Given that the road will only proceed should its need be demonstrated as outlined by the NTA it is appropriate and transparent to amend the wording in Table 7.5 in order to make reference to the proposed route and its function between the N7 and N4 and furthermore to include wording in regard to the required justification for any extension to this route from the N7 and N81 in line with the NTA’s recommendation and Transport Strategy Objectives.
It is therefore recommended that this motion is not adopted, and the wording as set out in the CE report in regard to the description and function of the Western Orbital Route is approved subject to further amendments which may be agreed on foot of other submitted motions.
CE Recommendation: It is recommended that this motion is not adopted.