DUNBOYNE CASTLE
A Heritage for Dunboyne
We
propose that Dunboyne Castle and grounds be developed for amenity and tourism
uses. The mature wooded grounds, sweeping lawns, secluded walks and central
location, which is easily accessible to all residents of Dunboyne, make
it an ideal location for a town park. While most housing estates have a
number of small spaces there is no proper park in the Dunboyne area. These
are the only suitable lands left for this purpose.
We believe
the State should purchase the domain as a regional tourism amenity with
the Castle developed along the lines of Malahide Castle, Ardgillan Castle
and Newbridge House - as a heritage, craft centre. There are no such facilities
in South Meath, or indeed in the adjoining North West Dublin area covering
the greater Blanchardstown / Castleknock area which now has a population
fast approaching 100,000.
The grounds
could be used for much needed football playing pitches for the GAA and
soccer clubs, or alternatively for a golf course.
Dunboyne Castle
house could be used for a number of interesting community and/or leisure
amenity uses.
The approximately
eighty acres of the estate are currently zoned for agriculture but are
coming under threat for development. The Dunboyne Community has a right
to a critical say in the future of Dunboyne Castle.
ENHANCING DUNBOYNE
.....Towards our Ideal Village
NEW FOOTPATH FOR LARCHFIELD
Are you aware that there
is NO footpath from the exit at Larchfield to the apartments at Hamilton
Hall .
Following a number of accidents,
which caused much local concern, we approached Meath County Council to
construct a footpath as a safety measure, and especially to allow children
safe access to the school crossing at Castleview.
We are delighted that the Council
now propose to provide a footpath at this location as part of the Dublin
Transportation Office works this year.
ROADS ALLOCATION FOR DUNBOYNE
After long and persistent
lobbying, DCRA is pleased with the allocation of IR£293,000 for roads
in Dunboyne.
IR£221,000
has been allocated for the upgrading of the
Dunboyne / Navan Road from the Industrial Estate to the village centre.
IR£72,000
has been allocated to carry out road repairs
from Loughsallagh to Dunboyne Village.
D.T.O. PROJECT UPDATE
Negotiations are ongoing
between Meath County Council and the Dublin
Transportation Office
with regard to funding for road and environmental improvements for Dunboyne.
Traffic calming measures will be put in place on approach roads to the
village.
The DTO
have allocated IR£220,000
for works in Dunboyne in 1999. This money will be used primarily for the
traffic calming gateways on the approach roads to the village and also
for school precint-type measures on Station Road.
The County Council has recognised
that Option 1 Plan found most favour with the people of Dunboyne as it
did with the Council itself. But the Council voted for Option Plan 2 modified.
The DTO have asked that plans be prepared
showing how progression of the project from Option 2 to Option 1 can be
achieved.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure,
the County Council adopted Option 2 Plan modified. This means that it accepts
the status quo and seeks to improve existing routes with the provision
of better paving, more orderly parking and traffic control.
A Death Trap
It is highly dangerous
to walk or cycle over the bridge at Station Road. We have asked the County
Council on a number of occasions in the past two years to provide a pedestrian
right of way beside the bridge. No allocation of funds has been made. There
is no commitment or good will shown to our proposal. NO COMMENT.
Dunboyne Development
Plan
Meath County Council ratified
the current Dunboyne Development Plan in March 1997.
The next review of this plan would
not be due to take place until 2002. However, as the County Development
Plan is being reviewed at present, a number of local plans are also being
reviewed including the Dunboyne Plan.
What is the Development Plan About
The Development Plan is a very important
document in that it sets out the plans for the area for the next five years.
It is during the drawing up the Development Plan that lands are rezoned
for development.
Because it is only two years since
the last review, we are told that there should only be slight changes to
the plan. However, developers will be looking to this process as an opportunity
to get additional lands rezoned for housing.
County
Councillors
Our local
County Councillors are the people who have the power to make decisions
on rezonings. It is therefore very important that the residents of Dunboyne
make Councillors and Candidates fully aware of what the electorate wants.
Councillors are elected by us to represent us.
Our View
There should
be no further land rezoned for housing in Dunboyne for at least five years.
This commitment should be restated and included in the 1999 Dunboyne Development
Plan.
The population
of Dunboyne has doubled to an estimated 4,500 over the last three years.
It is essential that the area is given time to settle and for communities,
old and new, to integrate. Our schools both Primary and Secondary are bursting
at the seams. Substructures would prove inadequate.
First must
come the Ring Road, the By-pass and the railway.
Litter a Social
disgrace
The good news first. Meath
County Council has taken some helpful initiatives. Dunboyne now has a green
machine visit the village once per week. Twice per week an Environmental
Maintenance person hand collects and bags litter on the village green and
streets. A number of enforcement actions have been taken against people
in Dunboyne for dumping refuse in public areas. And rightly so.
There would
be no need to go to the expense of collecting litter and suffering the
indignity of a filthy environment if people didn't throw it away but disposed
of it properly.
Meath County
Council's Clean-Up week is 18th to 23rd April.
A Green and Pleasant
Oasis
There are two different
Dunboynes - the one that existed before the mass developments of recent
times and the satellite town that is Dunboyne to-day.
Ironically, the very qualities of
space, greenery, unpolluted fresh air, tranquility and sylvian environment
that attracted newcommers are the very assets that are under attack by
the relentless pace of unstructured developments. Together with those people
who value Dunboyne's past we must ensure that all future developments are
sympathetic to the rural nature of this gem of South Meath.
Only developers would wish to turn
Dunboyne into another Tallagh, Clondalkin or Swords to satisfy their own
purely financial agenda. It will not be possible to prevent further development
in Dunboyne. However, the people of Dunboyne do have a right to be heard
in relation to how proposed developments will impact on their lives.
The first step in any campaign is
to protect Dunboyne from the plight of concrete is to ensure that sufficient
lands are zoned amenity and that these lands are then developed accordingly.
Dunboyne
Park should be completed and form the starting point for a linear
park through Castleview, Woodview, Beechdale and Larchfield. This should
include a walkway and cycle path, away from traffic and safe, and provide
a pedestrian village by-pass from the old railway line to the Maynooth
Road. This project would include the clean up of the Castle River which
is in danger of becoming a dumping ground partly because developers of
the new estates have turned the backs of houses to the river.
The lands of Dunboyne
Castle are amongst the finest in Meath with stately trees and
rolling parkland. What a shame if these were to become just yet another
housing estate. In the distant past this estate and its grounds contained
the village of Dunboyne. In later years its presence on the south side
brought the countryside right into the heart of the village.
If we are to have more developments
let them compliment Dunboyne, not destroy its green and pleasant environment,
an oasis from the hustle and bustle of Dublin and its environs.
TOP TEN QUESTIONS
FOR COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
1. Will you support no
further re-zoning for housing to take place for a period of five years
so that the present community can settle-in and adequate infrastructures
and community amenities are put in place ?
2. Will you actively support the
retention of a green belt between Clonee and Dunboyne ?
3. Will you fight for the retention
of Dunboyne Castle and lands as a community amenity ?
4. Will you actively support the
clean-up of the Castle River and the development of the surrounding area
as part of a linear walkway through Castleview, Woodview, Beechdale and
Larchfield ?
5. At present it is impossible to
leave Dunboyne by Foot. Will you advocate on our behalf a walkway provided
at Station Road Bridge ?
6. Where do you stand on the issue
of heavy vehicle traffic through our Village ? Which plan will the Council
implement with D.T.O. money ?
7. Will you give an assurance that
you will support the construction of the ring road to be carried out at
the same time as the extension of the Clonee by-pass and paid for by the
National Roads Authority?
8. Do you support the idea of a
Heritage Centre for Dunboyne and where do you see this being located?
9. Do you guarantee to consult the
local community prior to any decisions which affect our village and to
keep DCRA fully informed and regularly attend their meetings ?
10. If elected, what will be your
first objective for Dunboyne ?
VOTE in the
local elections on June 11th FOR THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR DUNBOYNE'S INTERESTS.
NEWSFLASH
A design team has been set-up to
look at the extension of the Clonee By-Pass, going the whole way to Navan
and including a Dunshaughlin By-Pass.
The National Roads Authority has allocated
£1.50m in 1999 for planning/design works on the N3 and for the
N2 Ashbourne By-Pass.¨ ar here shortly.
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