Bus timetable part of appeal in Baldoyle

A Baldoyle residents group has submitted a bus timetable to An Bord Pleanála to demonstrate why a better transport system should be put in place in the area before a fourth phase of the Stapolin Village development is granted.

Abbey Park and District Residents Association say that the lack of buses on the 32B bus service has pushed commuters to travel by car.

Seán Mulryan's Helsingor is seeking permission for a further phase of 453 residential units at Stapolin, as part of the Baldoyle/Portmarnock area action plan.

The residents ask that this phase of the development should not be occupied until the proposed train station is operational and a new bus service has been provided into the development.

In their appeal to An Bord Pleanála they say that, when the Dart service was extended to serve Malahide, "the Howth service was halved in order to provide carriages on the Malahide route. A train service that runs every 20 minutes at morning peak times is overcrowded and has many breakdowns.

"We think it a little premature and a great stretch of the imagination for Helsingor Ltd when they state greater investment in other forms of rail transport, such as extra Luas lines and a Metro servicing the greater Dublin area announced recently in the Government's Transport 21 framework document, will further ensure a seamless public link between the development and all parts of Dublin. While the public await the provision of such a service, we request an improved bus and rail service presently."

The residents' association says it has noted that Fingal County Council is willing to accept €967,275 in lieu of "Class 2" open space from the developer: "The shortfall being 2,900sq m which is a considerable area. Is it Fingal County Council's strategy going forward to accept money in lieu of open space or will money be used to provide a similar area elsewhere in Baldoyle?"

Around 4,000 homes are planned for the former Baldoyle racecourse and an adjoining 100-acre site in Portmarnock.

Seán Mulryan sold a 50 per cent stake in the Baldoyle and Portmarnock lands to Séamus Ross of Menolly Homes for €95 million in 2004.

Mulryan, whose main development company is Ballymore Properties, acquired the racecourse in 1999 from developer John Byrne.

The Irish Times

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