The new Luas route on the Docklands will entice tourists to the proposed Dublin Eye, city councillors believe.
The planned landmark, believed to cost somewhere in the region of €10m, will be located at the Point Village, right beside the O2, close to Ringsend.
News of the Dublin Eye has been given a cautious welcome by Lord Mayor Eimar Costello. She said - "The idea is to get people down to the docks, but I didn't realise it would be as far down as the O2. It does seem a bit far down to me, but maybe if it was further up and nearer to O'Connell Bridge, it would be visually obtrusive."
The new Luas route will be central to the success of the Eye, said Cllr Dermot Lacey. "With a proper transport system, then I don't have a problem with the location."
Plans for the huge observation wheel will be sent to Dublin City Council in the next few weeks.
A spokesperson for the Dublin Docklands Development Agency (DDDA) said - "All of that has to be established before we'll know when it will go in or exactly how much it will cost. One-third of the people who attend the O2 come from outside of Dublin, so there would be a lot of tourists going."
The planned Dublin Eye will have enclosed gondolas and it will be run as part of the Point Village 'concept' with Dublin City council, which will host free rock concerts, markets and screen sports events.
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 3 August 2009
City to splash out on flood defences despite cash crisis
Flood prevention work costing €4m will still go ahead, despite Dublin City Council's current financial woes.
The announcement was made at the council's north central area committee meeting during a recent presentation on flood damage in the Clanmoyle estate in Donnycarney.
Councillors were told that the walls at the back of a number of homes are being knocked down and rebuilt, leaving a route for rain water to escape into the neighbouring Clontarf Golf Club.
A channel is also being created, allowing excess water to be funnelled to the back of the properties and into the golf club, the committee's chairman Cllr Gerry Breen (FG) told the Herald newspaper.
However, the major part of the works will involve upgrading culverts through which the River Wad flows, widening the system to increase its capacity. This was the subject of a meeting held with the Office of Public Works (OPW).
It comes after dozens of people had to be evacuated from their homes in Clanmoyle in the early hours of July 2, when three weeks' worth of rain fell in the capital in just 90 minutes. It was the second time residents had been flooded in a year and they have vented their frustration at the lack of action to remedy the problem.
In the aftermath of the floods, a spokesman for the residents said - "We want Dublin City Council to do something now. We know that you know what the problem is - and now we want you to act. We were told at a meeting last year that this problem is likely to only occur once every 150 years, but here we are again.
"All the work we have done on our homes since last year is worthless. It has been blown apart."
Council engineer Martin Ryan had told residents at the time - "The big stumbling block is financial. We have to approach the Department of Environment and OPW."
www.buckplanning.ie
The announcement was made at the council's north central area committee meeting during a recent presentation on flood damage in the Clanmoyle estate in Donnycarney.
Councillors were told that the walls at the back of a number of homes are being knocked down and rebuilt, leaving a route for rain water to escape into the neighbouring Clontarf Golf Club.
A channel is also being created, allowing excess water to be funnelled to the back of the properties and into the golf club, the committee's chairman Cllr Gerry Breen (FG) told the Herald newspaper.
However, the major part of the works will involve upgrading culverts through which the River Wad flows, widening the system to increase its capacity. This was the subject of a meeting held with the Office of Public Works (OPW).
It comes after dozens of people had to be evacuated from their homes in Clanmoyle in the early hours of July 2, when three weeks' worth of rain fell in the capital in just 90 minutes. It was the second time residents had been flooded in a year and they have vented their frustration at the lack of action to remedy the problem.
In the aftermath of the floods, a spokesman for the residents said - "We want Dublin City Council to do something now. We know that you know what the problem is - and now we want you to act. We were told at a meeting last year that this problem is likely to only occur once every 150 years, but here we are again.
"All the work we have done on our homes since last year is worthless. It has been blown apart."
Council engineer Martin Ryan had told residents at the time - "The big stumbling block is financial. We have to approach the Department of Environment and OPW."
www.buckplanning.ie
Wicklow council begins computer checks in landfill case
Wicklow County Council has begun an examination of its 300 computers for references to the Whitestown illegal landfill in west Wicklow, in order to comply with a request from the High Court.
A computer belonging to the council’s environmental consultant, Seán Ó Laoire, has already been examined by a computer expert for documents relating to Whitestown, at the direction of Mr Justice Daniel O’Keeffe.
The computer searches were initiated after Mr Ó Laoire revealed that the council, for whom he is an expert witness, had not included his documents in its discovery of files on the Whitestown dump.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe is hearing two sets of proceedings to determine what remediation works should be carried out at Whitestown and who is liable for the cost of such works.
In the first action, the county council is seeking orders under the Waste Management Act against the former owner of the Whitestown lands, John O’Reilly; Brownfield Restoration Ireland Ltd, which bought the lands from Mr O’Reilly in 2003 and two waste companies - Swalcliffe Ltd, trading as Dublin Waste and Dean Waste Co Ltd.
In cross-proceedings, Brownfield and Dean Waste allege the council was, itself, engaged in dumping on the lands - including road work materials - and should bear the remediation costs.
In response to a request from the court for all relevant documents, Mr Ó Laoire delivered three folders of documents to the court, but said he was having a difficulty in accessing further information on his computer hard drive. Mr Justice O’Keeffe then directed Mr Ó Laoire to surrender his computer for technical examination - which he did. A copy of the restored hard drive was presented to Mr Ó Laoire and to other parties to the case.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe also asked Wicklow County Council to consider if it had any other files which might not have been made available in the original discovery of documents. A senior executive engineer, Philip Duffy, began an examination of the council’s computers.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Ó Laoire said he had worked to identify files on the restored hard drive, which might be of interest to the court. He produced five lever-arch files of documents in court. He also agreed he would review what paper files he had archived.
Wicklow County Council said it had covered some 60 of its 300 computers.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe said he would give the parties time to consider issues of privilege and be available to hear any motions which might arise from the discovery of additional documents. He would set aside two weeks in October for the resumption of the hearings.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A computer belonging to the council’s environmental consultant, Seán Ó Laoire, has already been examined by a computer expert for documents relating to Whitestown, at the direction of Mr Justice Daniel O’Keeffe.
The computer searches were initiated after Mr Ó Laoire revealed that the council, for whom he is an expert witness, had not included his documents in its discovery of files on the Whitestown dump.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe is hearing two sets of proceedings to determine what remediation works should be carried out at Whitestown and who is liable for the cost of such works.
In the first action, the county council is seeking orders under the Waste Management Act against the former owner of the Whitestown lands, John O’Reilly; Brownfield Restoration Ireland Ltd, which bought the lands from Mr O’Reilly in 2003 and two waste companies - Swalcliffe Ltd, trading as Dublin Waste and Dean Waste Co Ltd.
In cross-proceedings, Brownfield and Dean Waste allege the council was, itself, engaged in dumping on the lands - including road work materials - and should bear the remediation costs.
In response to a request from the court for all relevant documents, Mr Ó Laoire delivered three folders of documents to the court, but said he was having a difficulty in accessing further information on his computer hard drive. Mr Justice O’Keeffe then directed Mr Ó Laoire to surrender his computer for technical examination - which he did. A copy of the restored hard drive was presented to Mr Ó Laoire and to other parties to the case.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe also asked Wicklow County Council to consider if it had any other files which might not have been made available in the original discovery of documents. A senior executive engineer, Philip Duffy, began an examination of the council’s computers.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Ó Laoire said he had worked to identify files on the restored hard drive, which might be of interest to the court. He produced five lever-arch files of documents in court. He also agreed he would review what paper files he had archived.
Wicklow County Council said it had covered some 60 of its 300 computers.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe said he would give the parties time to consider issues of privilege and be available to hear any motions which might arise from the discovery of additional documents. He would set aside two weeks in October for the resumption of the hearings.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Wicklow council begins computer checks in landfill case
Wicklow County Council has begun an examination of its 300 computers for references to the Whitestown illegal landfill in west Wicklow, in order to comply with a request from the High Court.
A computer belonging to the council’s environmental consultant, Seán Ó Laoire, has already been examined by a computer expert for documents relating to Whitestown, at the direction of Mr Justice Daniel O’Keeffe.
The computer searches were initiated after Mr Ó Laoire revealed that the council, for whom he is an expert witness, had not included his documents in its discovery of files on the Whitestown dump.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe is hearing two sets of proceedings to determine what remediation works should be carried out at Whitestown and who is liable for the cost of such works.
In the first action, the county council is seeking orders under the Waste Management Act against the former owner of the Whitestown lands, John O’Reilly; Brownfield Restoration Ireland Ltd, which bought the lands from Mr O’Reilly in 2003 and two waste companies - Swalcliffe Ltd, trading as Dublin Waste and Dean Waste Co Ltd.
In cross-proceedings, Brownfield and Dean Waste allege the council was, itself, engaged in dumping on the lands - including road work materials - and should bear the remediation costs.
In response to a request from the court for all relevant documents, Mr Ó Laoire delivered three folders of documents to the court, but said he was having a difficulty in accessing further information on his computer hard drive. Mr Justice O’Keeffe then directed Mr Ó Laoire to surrender his computer for technical examination - which he did. A copy of the restored hard drive was presented to Mr Ó Laoire and to other parties to the case.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe also asked Wicklow County Council to consider if it had any other files which might not have been made available in the original discovery of documents. A senior executive engineer, Philip Duffy, began an examination of the council’s computers.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Ó Laoire said he had worked to identify files on the restored hard drive, which might be of interest to the court. He produced five lever-arch files of documents in court. He also agreed he would review what paper files he had archived.
Wicklow County Council said it had covered some 60 of its 300 computers.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe said he would give the parties time to consider issues of privilege and be available to hear any motions which might arise from the discovery of additional documents. He would set aside two weeks in October for the resumption of the hearings.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A computer belonging to the council’s environmental consultant, Seán Ó Laoire, has already been examined by a computer expert for documents relating to Whitestown, at the direction of Mr Justice Daniel O’Keeffe.
The computer searches were initiated after Mr Ó Laoire revealed that the council, for whom he is an expert witness, had not included his documents in its discovery of files on the Whitestown dump.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe is hearing two sets of proceedings to determine what remediation works should be carried out at Whitestown and who is liable for the cost of such works.
In the first action, the county council is seeking orders under the Waste Management Act against the former owner of the Whitestown lands, John O’Reilly; Brownfield Restoration Ireland Ltd, which bought the lands from Mr O’Reilly in 2003 and two waste companies - Swalcliffe Ltd, trading as Dublin Waste and Dean Waste Co Ltd.
In cross-proceedings, Brownfield and Dean Waste allege the council was, itself, engaged in dumping on the lands - including road work materials - and should bear the remediation costs.
In response to a request from the court for all relevant documents, Mr Ó Laoire delivered three folders of documents to the court, but said he was having a difficulty in accessing further information on his computer hard drive. Mr Justice O’Keeffe then directed Mr Ó Laoire to surrender his computer for technical examination - which he did. A copy of the restored hard drive was presented to Mr Ó Laoire and to other parties to the case.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe also asked Wicklow County Council to consider if it had any other files which might not have been made available in the original discovery of documents. A senior executive engineer, Philip Duffy, began an examination of the council’s computers.
At the resumed hearing, Mr Ó Laoire said he had worked to identify files on the restored hard drive, which might be of interest to the court. He produced five lever-arch files of documents in court. He also agreed he would review what paper files he had archived.
Wicklow County Council said it had covered some 60 of its 300 computers.
Mr Justice O’Keeffe said he would give the parties time to consider issues of privilege and be available to hear any motions which might arise from the discovery of additional documents. He would set aside two weeks in October for the resumption of the hearings.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry landscape damaged by rural houses, admits council
The countryside in Co Kerry has been damaged significantly by the proliferation of one-off houses, Kerry County Council has acknowledged in new guidelines it has published to protect the remaining landscape.
Foreign tourists have commented widely upon the damage, according to a new booklet issued by the council for applicants looking for planning permission for rural houses.
More than half of the houses in Kerry - or 34,000 of 66,000 - are in the countryside. About half the permanent population live in rural areas. However, houses are not integrated into the landscape, especially in areas where the landscape was exposed and barren, the guidelines state.
'It is clearly evident from travelling around the county that significant damage has already been done to the landscape' - the introduction by senior planning engineer Paul Stack says.
The damage by scattered houses had been commented widely upon by tourists who, nevertheless, still saw the Kerry countryside as beautiful and spectacular, Mr Stack writes.
'We should heed the warning and address the integration issue going forward' - the introduction to the guidelines continues. The landscape in Kerry could only accommodate a certain number of houses before irreversible damage was done to the landscape and water sources, it warned.
A meeting of Kerry County Council, however, has heard a call for a loosening up of the planning permissions in north Kerry. Councillors across the board are calling for a loosening of the planning system to extend planning permissions to landowners for rural houses to help create jobs in rural areas in the downturn.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Foreign tourists have commented widely upon the damage, according to a new booklet issued by the council for applicants looking for planning permission for rural houses.
More than half of the houses in Kerry - or 34,000 of 66,000 - are in the countryside. About half the permanent population live in rural areas. However, houses are not integrated into the landscape, especially in areas where the landscape was exposed and barren, the guidelines state.
'It is clearly evident from travelling around the county that significant damage has already been done to the landscape' - the introduction by senior planning engineer Paul Stack says.
The damage by scattered houses had been commented widely upon by tourists who, nevertheless, still saw the Kerry countryside as beautiful and spectacular, Mr Stack writes.
'We should heed the warning and address the integration issue going forward' - the introduction to the guidelines continues. The landscape in Kerry could only accommodate a certain number of houses before irreversible damage was done to the landscape and water sources, it warned.
A meeting of Kerry County Council, however, has heard a call for a loosening up of the planning permissions in north Kerry. Councillors across the board are calling for a loosening of the planning system to extend planning permissions to landowners for rural houses to help create jobs in rural areas in the downturn.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Two-thirds of residents want housing estate demolished
More than two-thirds of people living in one of Dublin’s biggest public housing estates want it demolished, it has been revealed.
Yet, the vast majority of residents in Dolphin House and Park in the south inner-city want to stay in the area despite drug dealing and other anti-social behaviour.
Local community activists have compiled a report detailing the residents’ hopes for radical regeneration being considered by Dublin City Council. Dr Rory Hearne, regeneration worker with the Dolphin House Community Development Association, said redevelopment work could end the cycle of poverty blighting the community.
“Regeneration of Dolphin House and Dolphin Park offers the potential to end a cycle of poverty and social disadvantage in this large community” - he said. “The cost of investing in regeneration now is only a fraction of what the future social and economic costs of inaction would be.
“As Dolphin is at the heart of a key area of Dublin city, regeneration also has the potential to create knock-on economic and social benefits and job creation opportunities for the surrounding community.”
After Ballymun, Dolphin House is the capital’s largest remaining public housing flat complex, with more than 900 residents - including a cluster of housing for senior citizens called Dolphins Park. It includes nine four-storey and three-storey blocks of flats built in the 1950s.
Key findings from the Dolphin Decides study are -
* 82% of residents want significant regeneration, with 67% wanting full demolition.
* Despite a history of drug dealing and intimidation, 70% of residents want to stay in the estate and 65% cited the area’s neighbourly feel.
* Residents also said tackling the social problems of the area must also be given as much time as dealing with the physical makeover and called for no delays in the regeneration.
* Residents do not wish to have a high-rise development built.
Locals recited verses and sang songs about the estate at the report’s launch in the Dolphin House Community Portakabins. Veronica Lally, 40, who has lived in the estate all her life, said regeneration was vital to help deal with the social problems plaguing the area.
“Regeneration is very important for our community. We want a bright new future. We believe after all these years we put in, that we want something back in return” - she said. “The flats that we live in today are practically uninhabitable at the moment. They’re damp - there’s just so much maintenance you can do.
“Unfortunately in society drugs affect every community. We’re not the only one. We hope through regeneration and through education and learning we can do something about this situation.”
However, fellow resident, Betty Phillips, aged in her 60s, doesn’t want to see the housing complex razed. “I’m really happy where I am in my flat. I feel safe there and I just have the fear that we will be left on a building site for years” - she said.
The report was launched in the estate by Barnardos chief Fergus Finlay and broadcaster George Hook. Mr Hook highlighted the community spirit in the area.
John Tierney, Dublin City Manager, said that, in the recession, it was going to be tough to implement a masterplan for the area, but the council would do everything in its power to work with the community to see it through.
www.buckplanning.ie
Yet, the vast majority of residents in Dolphin House and Park in the south inner-city want to stay in the area despite drug dealing and other anti-social behaviour.
Local community activists have compiled a report detailing the residents’ hopes for radical regeneration being considered by Dublin City Council. Dr Rory Hearne, regeneration worker with the Dolphin House Community Development Association, said redevelopment work could end the cycle of poverty blighting the community.
“Regeneration of Dolphin House and Dolphin Park offers the potential to end a cycle of poverty and social disadvantage in this large community” - he said. “The cost of investing in regeneration now is only a fraction of what the future social and economic costs of inaction would be.
“As Dolphin is at the heart of a key area of Dublin city, regeneration also has the potential to create knock-on economic and social benefits and job creation opportunities for the surrounding community.”
After Ballymun, Dolphin House is the capital’s largest remaining public housing flat complex, with more than 900 residents - including a cluster of housing for senior citizens called Dolphins Park. It includes nine four-storey and three-storey blocks of flats built in the 1950s.
Key findings from the Dolphin Decides study are -
* 82% of residents want significant regeneration, with 67% wanting full demolition.
* Despite a history of drug dealing and intimidation, 70% of residents want to stay in the estate and 65% cited the area’s neighbourly feel.
* Residents also said tackling the social problems of the area must also be given as much time as dealing with the physical makeover and called for no delays in the regeneration.
* Residents do not wish to have a high-rise development built.
Locals recited verses and sang songs about the estate at the report’s launch in the Dolphin House Community Portakabins. Veronica Lally, 40, who has lived in the estate all her life, said regeneration was vital to help deal with the social problems plaguing the area.
“Regeneration is very important for our community. We want a bright new future. We believe after all these years we put in, that we want something back in return” - she said. “The flats that we live in today are practically uninhabitable at the moment. They’re damp - there’s just so much maintenance you can do.
“Unfortunately in society drugs affect every community. We’re not the only one. We hope through regeneration and through education and learning we can do something about this situation.”
However, fellow resident, Betty Phillips, aged in her 60s, doesn’t want to see the housing complex razed. “I’m really happy where I am in my flat. I feel safe there and I just have the fear that we will be left on a building site for years” - she said.
The report was launched in the estate by Barnardos chief Fergus Finlay and broadcaster George Hook. Mr Hook highlighted the community spirit in the area.
John Tierney, Dublin City Manager, said that, in the recession, it was going to be tough to implement a masterplan for the area, but the council would do everything in its power to work with the community to see it through.
www.buckplanning.ie
Daly refused Ballsbridge project
Developer David Daly has been refused permission to redevelop Franklin House in Ballsbridge. Daly bought the site for a reported €25m, equating to a price of €133m, making it the most expensive land in the country.
Daly had been planning to develop a four- to eight-storey office block on the site but the plan was opposed by local residents, including businessman Dermot Desmond. An Taisce also opposed the plan.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
Daly had been planning to develop a four- to eight-storey office block on the site but the plan was opposed by local residents, including businessman Dermot Desmond. An Taisce also opposed the plan.
Sunday Tribune
www.buckplanning.ie
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