I agree to say no to rezoning St. Edmundsbury, it must remain a High Amenity area.

Nearly one month ago today, Lucan residents came together to voice their concerns over the development of lands at St. Edmundsbury. Over 3,000 signatures have backed this movement to-date, and it seems apparent that Lucan people will need to continue to fight to retain the areas that make Lucan, Lucan! St. Edmundsbury is a glorious haven in our diminishing village that has accommodated our fair share of development over the years. The lands of St. Edmundsbury are sacred to those who live here. The greedy developers who like to call this NIMBYISM are right, when your backyard is like Lucan’s.

Lucan is already heavily populated and congested. South Dublin already contains two of the largest residential SDZs in the State; Adamstown and Clonburris. Together they already provide capacity for approximately 19,000 homes and a future population well in excess of 40,000 people.

Close your eyes, do you remember your childhood? Do you remember green spaces, nature walks, wildlife in their natural habitat, places to ramble and adventure? I really hope you do. Don’t you think it’s important for the generations to come that they have access to that very same thing? Do you honestly think that rezoning a well-loved ‘green lung’ area to become yet another poorly serviced concrete jungle is a legacy?

The National Planning Framework seeks to “distribute economic growth and population more evenly across the country. It quotes “balanced regional development counter to the historical concentration of development in the Dublin region…. a transition to a low-carbon, environmentally sustainable economy.” I understand we are living in a housing crisis, believe me, I and many others are ACUTELY aware, but I think if we’re are honest, rezoning historical and environmentally significant sites in Lucan such as St. Ed’s and Finnstown Castle, is akin to a “fire sale” approach that sacrifices our local heritage and biodiversity for short-term gains.

I’ve lived in Lucan most of my life. My parents moved here in the 70s, when they signed up for memberships to the local gym in Griffeen, with the promise of a local pool! This pool, as you know was delivered last year. My Dad never lived to see it!

It’s unfortunate that many other Lucan developments were made similar promises of facilities and are… still waiting. Recent reports of people keying cars and letting air out of tyres over parking spots does not sound like harmonious living to me.

Please listen to our voices, this is our home, there are plenty of other areas that you can develop. You only need to look at the 131 derelict buildings in Dublin City (and throughout the country!) that are ripe for development! See Rob Cross’s video attached.

Once you take this away, it’s gone forever, and our community's lifeblood will be on YOUR hands, and I will never forgive you for it.