COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL

Thursday, December 11, 2025

MOTION NO.5(ID:89270)

MOTION: Councillor L. de Courcy

That this council abandons the plan to open a walkway between Monastery Heath and Woodford. Monastery Heath was built as a cul-de-sac and people bought homes there with this understanding. The estate was never designed to function as a through way. Residents are very concerned about the increase in foot, bike and e-scoter traffic with associated noise pollution as well as the very likely increase in anti-social behaviour and crime. As per the Planning Department, the current distance from Woodford to the schools on New Road is approximately 1.67km. Opening up this permeability route would shorten the route to 1.53km, not a significant reduction in distance and not enough to encourage people to walk who were not walking previously.

CE Report: 

The proposed motion seeks to abandon the plan to open a permeability route between Monastery Heath and Woodford, highlighting that residents are concerned about the increase in foot, bike and e-scooter traffic, as well as noise pollution, increase in anti-social behaviour and crime. The motion also highlights people within Monastery Heath purchased their homes because it was a cul-de-sac and the reduction on travel time will not increase walking. 

As part of the preparation of the LPF, a Local Transport Plan (LTP) was undertaken to provide an evidence-based analysis of the existing travel patterns and mode share (how people travel whether by public transport, car or walking and cycling) alongside demand analysis (where people want to travel to), transport infrastructure and land use.  

In seeking to respond to the need to reduce congestion, identified at the first round of pre-draft public consultation, and to improve the environment around the village centre, an option was put forward for the public’s consideration at a second round of pre-draft consultation which included changes to road layouts and bus gates. This option was strongly resisted by the public. 

As a result, a third round of pre-draft public consultation was undertaken which consisted of two stages. The purpose of this consultation was to realise what mobility measures the community would accept and that were in keeping with government policy and the County Development Plan. Two areas were focused on during stakeholder meetings. These were:  

The first stage of this 3rd round of consultation took place between November and December 2024, involving 59 one-to-one meetings with key stakeholder groups (approximately 260 people including businesses, schools, community groups, residents’ associations etc.). From discussions with school principals, it emerged that most pupils live within 2km of schools. Notwithstanding, 40-60% of children travel to school by car. 

In January 2025, the second stage of this round of consultation was a series of participatory public workshops at which revised transport and mobility measures were put forward reflecting the feedback from the first stage. This consisted of a package of measures including permeability. These workshops allowed for further refinement and validation of the proposed measures, identification of emerging issues, and collaboration with the community in developing implementation approaches. 

The outcome following this round of pre-draft consultation was that permeability measures were generally supported in theory. However, the community had strong and consistent reservations regarding permeability interventions for similar reasons as set out in this motion and through submissions received to the draft plan. Proposed solutions to these concerns were identified at the consultation as:  

These measures have been built into the objectives of the LPF as follows: 

SM4 Objective 1: To support the permeability routes and links identified in Figure 5.9 and Table 5.4, subject to further consultation, which will enable quicker and safer access to schools, shops, places of work and social interaction in a pedestrian and cycle friendly environment.  

SM4 Objective 2: To ensure that proposed permeability links are designed in line with the NTA’s best practice guidance and in such a way as to reduce the potential for anti-social behaviour, providing wide and inviting openings which are well lit  

SM5 Objective 1: To deliver the identified priority permeability routes, subject to local consultation, to facilitate improved connections to schools, increasing the safety of children currently using active travel and providing improved options for children and their parents / guardians currently travelling by car to switch to walking or cycling.  

SM5 Objective 2: To encourage permeability improvements in general, including those identified as secondary permeability links, at suitable locations following appropriate consultation, throughout the Plan area. 

SM5 Objective 4: To engage with the community prior to any formal Part 8 or related process to facilitate consultation on proposed new links and their design.  

A cohesive approach to supporting more sustainable forms of movement has been incorporated into the Local Planning Framework. This involves objectives around permeability to help people move between places as easily as possible, providing a safe alternative to driving shorter distances for those who would like to.  Importantly, the identified permeability improvements would enable children to walk or cycle from residential areas in the northern and eastern part of the LPF area to schools in the more southern part of the plan area so as to reduce car journeys through the village and so ease congestion. As it stands, significant areas within Woodford are cut off from the village and schools limiting the options for movement other than by car.  The package of measures in the LPF also includes public realm improvements, pedestrian crossings at key locations, safety initiatives for cycling and walking and more Safe Routes to Schools and lower speed limits.  

Taken together, permeability alongside the other measures in the plan will, by facilitating alternatives to the car where that is appropriate for people, help towards reducing congestion and the dominance of the car in the village centre, contribute towards a reduction in carbon emissions and associated pollution, improve walking and cycling and public transport connectivity, improve the safety of the transport network for end users, and provide better and safer routes and access to schools / shops and other local facilities. 

As set out in Table 5.4, the proposed connection between Woodford Drive and Monastery Heath is considered highly important as a priority connection between the Woodford area and the schools at New Road. Further value can be added to the route if it is connected with potential permeability routes through Round Towers GAA club lands and the existing permeability connection to St. Brigid’s Secondary school. While reducing the overall distance to travel to school it also improves safety and has the potential to help reduce congestion. Any reduction in distance will help to make walking and cycling a more attractive option. 

CE Recommendation: 

No change to the draft LPF (Variation no. 1)

Advisory Note:  Initial Screening for SEA for the Motion

This proposal would not provide the most evidence-based framework for development and has the potential to undermine sustainable development and proper planning - with potential for associated unnecessary adverse environmental effects on various environmental components. Taking this into account, SEA would be likely to be advised as being required.

Initial Screening for AA for the Motion

No AA issues; Stage 2 AA not required.