Biodiversity. Please details plans as to when you will stop using chemicals. Plant native trees and shrubs. Appoint a biodiversity officer.
During COVID the importance of available outdoor spaces and gardening facilities was highlighted. Please detail more specific plans for additional allotments for Clondalkin and county. No mention in the plan of the numbers on the waiting list and how this will be tackled.
Corkagh Park: Traffic within the park is unacceptable. Please consider using a hub away from the park to house the construction vehicles. I have encountered vehicles on every single path in the park and the paths are not wide enough to accommodate. At the very least there should be one entry and exit point for all vehicles.
Drug dealing is still an ongoing problem in Corkagh park and the park is not safe to use.
Camac River: The correct management of the Camac is most welcome with the park providing flood alleviation. It would be great to have more specifics regarding the future management of the park re flooding as the OPW have tended towards the more expensive concrete walls approach rather than natural flood alleviation.
The Hellfire Club
Please leave the Hellfire Club as is. The cost of this project will eventually be cost more than €22m and it is an immoral amount of public money to be spending when we are currently running food banks within the county.
Under your current system each key area in the country and their well-deserved groups must wait 7+ years to bid for a proportion of €300k. Surely the €22m could be better spent.
Rathcoole Woodlands
I consider that Rathcoole Woodlands and the area of CS10 SLO1 with its rich and unique biodiversity to be a valuable amenity for the people of Rathcoole and surrounding areas and is worthy of protection. I am asking the Council to:
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Preserve the entire area of CS10 SLO1 and designate it a High Amenity Area with overarching policies and objectives for protection and preservation (see 4 and 5 below).
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At the very least, Amend CS10 Rathcoole SLO 1 as outlined in red bold below:
To investigate the potential for alternative land uses for the lands currently zoned RES-N (To provide for new residential communities in accordance with approved area plans) and OS (To preserve and provide for open space and recreational amenities) as identified by the SLO on the CDP land use zoning map, having regard to protecting existing annex habitats of Alluvial Woodland, Lowland Hay Meadow, Petrifying Springs and biodiversity rich non-annex habitats of orchid rich and species rich grasslands, and heritage hedgerows, Biodiversity and the Rathcoole Woodlands, GI7 Objective 3 and 4, the need for social and affordable housing, community infrastructure and access. Following this assessment, and where alternative land use arrangements are identified in line with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, to bring forward proposals for re-zoning including the establishment of a new land use zoning High Amenity-Camac Valley/Rathcoole Woodlands, ‘HA – RW’ if deemed appropriate within the lifetime of this plan.
Should it prove that none or only a small area can be developed in CS10 SLO 1 that a new zoning objective is established; Zoning Objective High Amenity-Camac Valley/Rathcoole Woodlands and environs, ‘HA –CV/ RW’ for the undeveloped area. And the following is put in place to protect and preserve Rathcoole Woodland for present and future generations as part of the new zoning objective:
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its designation as a Nature Reserve
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obtaining a Special Amenity Area Order
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and if appropriate to nominate it as a candidate Special Area of Conservation by bringing it to the attention of NPWS
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or as a Natural Heritage Area
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To include the setting of a Natural, Cultural and Built Heritage (NCBH) policy for Rathcoole Woodlands and its environs: to protect and enhance the outstanding natural character and amenity of Rathcoole Woodlands and its environs, including its landscape, visual, recreational, ecological, educational and historical heritage value, as a key element of the County’s Green Infrastructure network.
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To designate Rathcoole Woodlands and its environs as a space for Nature and Biodiversity under the Green Infrastructure and Parks and Open Space.
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To incorporate all of Rathcoole Woodlands and its environs as is (CS10 SLO1 area), into the Green Infrastructure Strategy as a pivotal GI Core with Rathcoole Park and Swiftbrook Mill Ponds along the Camac Valley GI Corridor linking to Slade Valley and Crooksling Glen pNHA, Lugg Woods and the Rural Fringe Corridor.
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To extend the public owned lands containing Rathcoole Woodlands, either by direct purchase or land swap to incorporate the Woodland in adjacent land, the historical 170 year old double hedged passage to the west, and transitional zone from Woodland to managed park land to the east.
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To incorporate all of Rathcoole Woodlands as is, into the Green Infrastructure Strategy as part of a wider nature/walking trail from Saggart to Lugg Woods and a significant core area.
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To incorporate all of Rathcoole Woodlands as is, with minimal management into Rathcoole Park.
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To recognise of Rathcoole Woodland as being the first Native Woodland resulting from re-wilded agriculture land. One of a kind.
I would like the above included in the next County Development Plan 2022-2028.