Heritage & Local Environment

At a recent meeting of Labour Party members and supporters, Councillor Michael O’Donovan took questions on issues of heritage and the local environment. This leaflet reflects the discussion.


Q: Michael, at Council meetings you often refer to “quality-of-life” issues and to the importance of valuing local heritage and of enhancing the local environment. Is this really possible in an area like Dublin 15, one of the fastest growing areas in the E.U.

A: It is possible and it’s vital. In the middle of so much pressure for development, we need to protect and enhance as many elements of our natural, cultural and built heritage as possible so that we can hold on to some sense of place and identity. We also need to give Dublin 15 residents a sense of ownership of this heritage by, for example, making many more of our heritage lands accessible to local people.



Q: For example?

A: Let me give you a few. We are fortunate to have three inland waterways in Dublin 15; the Liffey, the Tolka and the Canal. The Liffey Valley is an area of fantastic natural beauty and we have protected the area from rezoning and intrusive development, but it’s still largely inaccessible to walkers because most of the valley is in private hands.



Q: You’ve previously proposed a “Strawberry Way”, a pedestrian trail along the Liffey. Will this ever become a reality?

A: I believe it will. The Liffey Valley has the potential to be a “Green Lung” in the heart of the built-up areas of Dublin West. We have some pieces of the jigsaw in place, such as Lucan Demesne and St. Catherine’s Park near Westmanstown, but there’s a lot more to be done. The Council now owns the Shakleton Mills, a Victorian industrial building in the Strawberry Beds. We hope to turn this into a visitor centre but, to be of real value, it must link with a series of pedestrian paths. That whole area has great natural beauty and is part of Dublin tradition and has the potential to be a world-class centre for tourism. In less prosperous times, Dubliners spent a day in the Strawberry Beds as their honeymoon. The lady had strawberries and cream and a drop of sherry while the groom would have a pint or two in the Strawberry Hall.



Q: You mentioned the potential of Shakleton Mills as a tourism centre. Is it true that Fingal Council hopes to restore the famous Shakleton Gardens at Beechpark, Clonsilla?

A: Yes. We’ve only recently completed a land swap with the owners. The Dublin 15 area has a historic link with Ernest Shakleton, the Antartic explorer who brought all his crew home alive. We intend to restore the Victorian walled gardens and we’re already in the process of developing some of the fields in Beechpark Estate as a sporting facility.


Q: The State now owns the huge Abbotstown Estate just beyond Connolly Hospital. How will local people benefit?

A: The vision here is for a centre of sporting excellence, and there must be facilities for local clubs. Within the estate, the ruins of the ancient monastic settlement, the woodlands and the gate lodges are all “listed” for preservation. But, for Dublin 15 residents to enjoy this amenity, an “Abbotstown Walk”, linking Blanchardstown Village, the Tolka Valley and the estate is something we must work and fight for. I want people to be able to stroll through these heritage lands.



Q: But sometimes, heritage areas come under threat. There is to be a pipeline through the Tolka Valley, and the old Mulhuddart Bridge has to be replaced. Do local representatives like yourself have any real influence on decisions like these?

A: Yes, we have. We can make changes for the better. In the instance of the Tolka Valley, the Labour group on the Council achieved guarantees of full reinstatement of the landscape including the trees and the more recent orchid meadows, and there will be a committee of local residents to monitor progress. I have also proposed that the stone from the old bridge be used to make an artistic feature in the valley. We might put the design out for public comment in order to give local people ownership of it.



Q: Is our planning system strong enough to protect the natural environment, especially when land is being continuously designated for new commercial or residential development?

A: I wish we had stronger planning laws, but even within present constraints, we can do a lot. We, the councillors, can enforce conditions obliging developers to plant more trees and shrubs and provide properly laid out open spaces and play areas. The visual impact of business parks can be “softened” by heavy planting and by water features and outdoor sculpture.



Q: Anything else on your wish list, Michael?

A: Lots. Completion of the Millennium Park and restoration of the old walls, (the last remnants of Jelletstown House), large new public parks for Tyrrelstown and Castaheany/Littlepace, three hundred garden allotments at Powerstown, a collection of Dublin 15 local history archives in the Blanchardstown library, an audit of older vernacular buildings including farm buildings and places of work, more marked walking trails… there’s no shortage of work to be done.

Tolka Valley Pipeline: Update

Cllr Michael O’Donovan

"There is little doubt that, when work starts on the pipeline project, there will be disruption. I am confident that the motions we have passed at today’s meeting will go a long way towards minimising the damage.

We must insist on a full reinstatement and a real investment in landscaping and planting.

I’m pleased that the County Manager has accepted my suggestion of a monitoring committee. The members of that committe will be the eyes and ears of the community while work is in progress".

See below for motions put forward at council meetings, by Cllr Michael O’Donovan. Promises made by council management are attached to each motion:-


Motion No. 1 Councillor O’Donovan
‘That the full reinstatement of the Park be carried out under the supervision of an Ecologist.’

Managers Response:
It is the intention of Water Services Department to employ an ecologist/landscaper as part of the site supervision team during construction and reinstatement. Our Consultant Ecologist is currently working on a job specification for this person. The job specification will be agreed with Parks Division in advance of procurement of the site supervision team.

Motion No. 2 Councillor O’Donovan
‘That the good work done by fishing clubs be commended and that pipe laying be carried out on a section by section basis and ensure that some sections of the Tolka are available at all times to the clubs.’

Managers Response:
Fingal County Council acknowledges the excellent work carried out by the fishing clubs and the other community groups. Fingal County Council has already committed to include the requirement for works being carried out on a section by section basis in the Contract Documents. The Contractor will be required to reseed in the first available window after completion of the work in each section. As this Contract is to be procured under a Design Build Contract, it will be up to the Contractor to programme the exact sequencing of construction events, taking account of the seasonal requirements for rivers, etc as set out in the Natura Ecology Report. Approximately 85% of the Tolka River will be available to fishing clubs at all times.

Motion No. 3 Councillor O’Donovan
‘Council notes that an archaeology study of the pipeline be carried out on behalf of the Council, and requests assurances that all recommendations in the report will be carried out.’

Managers Response:
Fingal County Council commits to implementing any requirements of the Archaeology Study. All necessary pre-construction surveys will be carried out in advance of finalising the Contract Documents. The report will be included with the Contract Documents and the Contractor will be required to carry out all monitoring set out in the report.

Motion No. 4 Councillor O’Donovan
‘That the orchid meadows be reinstated in accordance with the recommendations of the Ecology Report.’

Managers Response:
The successful Contractor will be required to implement all mitigation and reinstatement measures set out in the Ecology Report, including the reinstatement of the orchid meadows.

Motion No. 5 Councillor O’Donovan
‘That all appropriate steps be taken in line with the requirements of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, to ensure that the river and fish life are not adversely affected by the works.’

Managers Response:
Initial consultations have taken place with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB). The ERFB are happy that if the works are carried out in accordance with an agreed Method Statement and good work practices are followed, there will be no adverse effect on the river or fish life. There are seasonal constraints when work on the river can be carried out to ensure the breeding season of the fish is not compromised.

Motion No. 6 Councillor O’Donovan
‘That a liaison committee be set up to ensure that local residents are kept informed of progress and can contribute their views.’
Managers Response:
Fingal County Council have already given a commitment to establish such a committee.

"It's a Problem Now, But It's No Longer a Disaster"

Labour’s Cllr Michael O’Donovan claimed that lobbying by councillors and submissions from residents had brought about substantial improvements in the pipeline scheme.

"None of us want to see the Tolka Valley dug up, but if some work has to happen to facilitate new sewage works and stromwater protection, then our job is to make sure the job is done with minimum hassle and maximum reinstatement.

I am happy that a number of motions of my own have been accepted by the Council’s engineers. These include:-

• 
  That some sections of the river are available at all times to the fishing clubs and individual fishers.


• That the full reinstatement of the park will be carried out under the supervision of an ecologist.


• That the orchid meadows will be reinstated in accordance with the recommendations of the ecology report by NATURA consultants.


• That full cognisance be taken of the Archaeology report already carried out by the Council.


• That a liaison committee will be set up to ensure that residents are kept informed of progress and can contribute their views.


• That all appropriate measures are taken, in line with the requirements of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, to ensure that the river and fish life are not adversely affected by the works.

There was one submission from a local group that I cannot support. That is the proposal to construct part of the pipeline along the Old Navan Road in order to avoid the valley near Castlecurragh. This would have huge consequences for traffic movement, and people going to work would be badly hit by the disruption to bus routes 238, 38, 38A, 220, and 270.



Cllr Michael O’Donovan