This open space land approaching the historic Finnstown Castle provides the adjacent communities in Lucan, Hillcrest, Adamstown SDZ, Gollierstown, Aderrig and more access to a natural, unplanned and restorative landscape with the facility to walk it due to the road leading up to Finnstown Castle. The environmental impact of rezoning this land as residential would have a detrimental effect both on the remaining ecosystem and on the quality of life of the thousands of residents who live nearby, some in relatively high density areas, who depend on walking this route and experiencing the natural environment for their quality of life - so many people have relayed this to me time and time again.
More rapid and cumulative growth in this area could affect identity, sense of place, social cohesion, integration with existing communities and drive a negative impact on the quality of life for all in the area, as well as the ecological destruction - in the middle of a climate crisis.
The impact of cumulative development in this area will be very costly across quality of life, ecological, and impacts on public transport, as well as further adding to the extreme congestion of the road network in the area. Dart+SW, even if it were to be in operation in two years, would still not address this impact, and cannot be relied up as a future reliever of the current transport situation, which is already at total capacity.
This land should be retained as it is, and the recent decision by SDCC Councillors not to rezone should stand, as part of the public planning process, including public consultation.