Dunboyne Combined Residents Association 

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DCRA Press Release - 26.04.04: Appeal to An Bord Pleanala in respect of Planning Application for the development of Dunboyne Castle Demesne.

 

Dunboyne Combined Residents Association (DCRA)

Objectives

· To inform, consult with and represent the residents of Dunboyne on issues affecting their quality of life and environment.
· To take on board matters raised by affiliated associations.
· To give collective support to affiliated associations.
· To monitor and respond to all planning applications and development plans proposed for Dunboyne to ensure that they are in compliance with county, regional, national and European planning laws and directives.
· To work with Resident Associations in neighbouring counties within the Eastern Region.
· To liaise with the European Union, Government Departments, national organisations and regional bodies.
· To work with, negotiate with and remain in regular contact with Meath County Council.
· To publish regular newsletters and maintain a DCRA website.
· To protect and promote our local cultural and social heritage.
· To protect, maintain and develop our landscape and environment.

Principles

DCRA exists to address and voice the interests and concerns of residents in line with the principle of Subsidiarity of the European Union (Maastricht Treaty) which states that decisions should be taken by the people most affected by them.

DCRA exists to preserve and develop the environment of residents in compliance with the principle of Sustainable Development as enshrined in Agenda 21 of the United Nations which requires that all development must serve not only economic objectives but also social and environmental objectives.

Membership

At present there are 20 Residents Associations in membership, representing 1,600 plus households and approximately 85% of the population of Dunboyne.

General Statement

1. The rezoning of the Dunboyne Castle Demesne was opposed by the overwhelming majority of residents of Dunboyne through DCRA and by approximately 1,600 signed letters. The planning application to Meath County Council for the development of Dunboyne Castle was opposed by DCRA, seven local organisations, the Dublin Transportation Office, An Taisce, John Bruton TD and 25 individuals from the local community. DCRA proposed that Dunboyne Castle and grounds be developed for tourism, community and amenity uses only. These are the only remaining lands in Dunboyne suitable for a public park, an amenity that is severely lacking in our area. The wishes of our community were rejected by County Council when a decision was taken to zone Dunboyne Castle and grounds for development.
2. The proposed development would contribute in a major way
· to destroy the Dunboyne village identity
· to permanently damage a critical and inherited part of our landscaped environment
· to bring about a deterioration of the life-style of residents,
· to lead to the deterioration of its traditional community life,
· to inevitably increase traffic congestion and consequent pollution
· and finally it ignores the democratically expressed will of the majority of residents of Dunboyne.
3. There are a number of important reasons why this planning application must be rejected:-
· It fails because, as based on the evidence presented to this hearing on the flooding issue, the risk of flooding in the Dunboyne area remains.
· It fails to comply with the requirement of the Planning Act 2000 for proper planning and sustainable development.
· It fails to comply with the Strategic Planning Guidelines which are themselves firmly based on the principles of Sustainable Development
· It fails to comply with the planning act that requires provision for essential services.
· It fails to comply with the stated objectives of Meath County Development Plan 2001


Strategic Planning Guidelines For the Greater Dublin Area

During the Judicial Review the expert witness who was largely responsible for the preparation of the Strategic Planning Guidelines stated explicitly that the Meath County Development Plan departed fundamentally from the guidelines.
This proposed development does not appeal to and can not be justified on the basis of "local need" as required by the Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area. It is not clear what the working definition for "local needs" that Meath County Council used nor the definition being used by An Bord Pleanala.

County Meath Development Plan 2001

It was pointed out at the hearing and evidence was given that in eight areas the application was in conflict with the County Meath Development Plan 2001.


Transport Infrastructure

The inadequacy of the current infrastructure in respect of road, transport and rail was forcibly presented. A strong case was put that this development should not go ahead without the construction of the Ring Road for Dunboyne and the construction of a spur rail line from Clonsilla to Dunboyne.

Traffic Implications

Ireland by international agreement must act with responsibility to meet the commitment given in 1997 under the Kyoto Protocol regarding the emission of greenhouse gasses. The proposed development will create some 840 new commuters (estimated at 1.5 cars per dwelling unit) whose contribution to the problem will amount to some 2,500 tons of Carbon dioxide per annum solely from travelling to work.
The additional road traffic generated by future residents of this development plus the hotel users would significantly add to and further aggravate the existing grid lock morning and evening in Dunboyne, Through Clonee and down the N3 through Blanchardstown to the City. This proposed development does not satisfy the infrastructural requirements for Dunboyne and city access but rather to put additional pressures on already inadequate services.

Schools

A specific presentation was made to An Bord Pleanala in respect of the traffic implications for schools situated along Station Road.

The sheer inability to accommodate additional young population resulting from this development.

DCRA supports efforts by An Gael Scoil to obtain a permanent site for the school with the exception of the development of the Castle Grounds. A site for the school could be found on adjacent to lands owned by the County Council.

Sensitive Landscape

1. Dunboyne and especially Dunboyne Castle Demesne enjoys a sensitive landscape, that has been shaped over the centuries, by people and nature, the destruction of which will be irreversible, irreplaceable and a permanent loss for future generations.

2. It has huge potential as a recreational area for south Meath, which is rapidly losing its natural environment as a consequence of the urban sprawl from Dublin. The south Meath area is in serious need of such a recreational and amenity area. Dunboyne Castle and demesne would be ideal for this purpose. Sustainable development does respect the commercial aspect of developments but does not tolerate dominance of the commercial element. There is no justification for the destruction of such a landscape purely for commercial reasons.

3. The price of destroying a unique community heritage by the proposed development amounts to an environmental tragedy. These are the only lands left in Dunboyne with such rich landscape and trees and, most importantly, these lands enjoy a central location to provide a much needed community facility and public park for the people of Dunboyne and the Greater Dublin Area West and could achieve a commercial gain for the village by developing a regional tourism amenity for the surrounding Local Authorities and Counties.

Flooding

Two technical submissions were made on the implications of flooding in respect of the proposed development. The Final Report issued recently on the Tolka and Castle River flooding and the works carried out to date, and which are continuing, were critically appraised. The conclusions drawn from these two substantive submissions were that the Final Report and the river modelling on which it was based were flawed, that the environmental impact of these had not been assessed, that the latest research on Climate change had not been regarded and that acceptable assurances could not be given on flood risk.

Families affected by the flooding in 1986, 2000 and 2002 are as concerned now, as they have ever been that further significant development will add to the risk of their homes being flooded again. No further development should take place in Dunboyne - at least until the flood alleviation measures have been seen to have been effective.

Planning Gains

It was stated that there will be no transfer of ownership of lands to any community organisation including the GAA, Dunboyne Athletics Club, Dunboyne Boxing Club and An Gael Scoil. An Bord Pleanala heard that no agreement was to date in place with any community organisation for the use of any lands on Dunboyne Castle Demesne.

The practice of the incentivisation of selected organisations, to the exclusion of the majority of residents in our community, to achieve development objectives and to endeavour win the consensus of the local community was denounced.

Conclusion

DCRA made it clear that it fully supports the development of Dunboyne Castle as a hotel and amenity centre.

DCRA, in its submissions to Meath County Council in 1999, June 2000, December 2000 stated and now again in this submission states its opposition to the proposed development on the lands of Dunboyne Castle Demesne.

DCRA thanks An Bord Pleanala for the opportunity of making this presentation. Finally we ask An Bord Pleanala that in respect of the evidence given that there should be a presumption against development of the Dunboyne Castle Demesne and that the application is refused.

END

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