Dublin mountain visitor centre on hold over environmental assessments

Published by Niall Sargent on February 13, 2019February 13, 2019

February 13th, 2019

Plans for a new visitor centre in the Dublin Mountains have been put on hold due to concerns from the planning authority over the adequacy of the project’s environmental assessments.

An Bord Pleanála is now seeking further information from the project’s lead architect Paul Keogh on the plans for the centre which will include a 75-seater cafe, an exhibition facility and a walkers’ lounge.

The plan, a joint venture from South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership, would also see the conversion of a Coillte conifer plantation to a broadleaf woodland and an increase in walking trails within Montpelier Hill and Massy’s Wood.

As part of its further information request, the Board has asked for additional bird surveys to be carried out to monitor for Merlin, a species located in the Wicklow Mountains Special Protection Area (SPA).

In its letter to Mr Keogh, the Board stated that it is “not satisfied” that the “limited” summer 2018 survey was adequate. The Board has requested an additional survey to be carried out “in optimal conditions to address these concerns”.

The decision was criticised by the Irish Raptor Study Group according to RTE who reported earlier this week that the groups advised both sides that the development would not affect the Merlin population.

Ext. frustrating to see inconsistency @anbordpleanala & disappointing #NIMBY @SavetheHellfire using #Raptors as scapegoats to object to legitimate compliant development. IRSG were consulted on this by @ROD_Env & had zero concerns re: Merlin @John_Kilraine https://t.co/z8wJIaL89J

— Irish Raptor Study Group (@IrishRaptorSG) February 11, 2019

The Board also outlined its concern that the potential impact of an increase in visitor traffic on nearby designated protected nature areas was not adequately assessed.

The letter also states that the Board was not satisfied that adequate baseline ecological surveys and monitoring were carried out in relation to the potential impact of increased visitor numbers and elements of the proposed development in Massy’s Wood.

“[The Board] could therefore not be satisfied that there would be a significant negative impact on the ecology, biodiversity and flora and fauna of the area,” the letter reads.

As such, the Board has requested that the applicant undertakes additional surveys and monitoring under optimal conditions of vegetation, habitats, and protected species including bats and otter.

Additional monitoring is also required for freshwater invertebrates upstream and downstream of the surface water discharge point in Glendoo Brook, the Board said.

How much public money has @sdublincoco wasted on this #VanityProject to date? Over 20,000 have signed petition & said NO to this overscaled inappropriately located dev! @IrishTimes #1thing4nature @BiodCon_ie @brophytalks @JohnLahart @TheEchoOnline @Independent_ie @Wardy1916 pic.twitter.com/TZJ7JWmeXP

— SavetheHellfire (@SavetheHellfire) February 9, 2019

Oral hearing proceedings

Speaking at the Board’s oral hearing last November, Mr Keogh said that the project comes in response to the projected growth in Dublin’s population and an expected bump in visitor numbers to the capital.

This will lead to an “exponential increase” in visitors to the Dublin Mountain in the coming decades, Mr Keogh said, with a “do-nothing scenario” not a sustainable option going forward.

The proposed visitor centre will also act as an “economic driver” for the Dublin South County area, Mr Keogh said, as the projected growth in visitors will “increase ‘dwell time’” as well as spending and employment in the locality.

He said that the design of the visitor centre, as well as a tree canopy walkway and bridge over the Killakee Road to link Montpelier Hill and Massy’s Wood would be “an exemplar of best practice in sustainable architectural design”.

ABP decision to seek more info on Hellfire Visitors Centre vindicates the position of campaigners. Protect beauty and biodiversity from overdevelopment. @sdublincoco must reconsider…Stop this multi-million euro over tourism project now. @MassyFriends @SavetheHellfire

— Gino Kenny TD (@Ginosocialist) February 10, 2019

Multi-million euro vanity project

Local People Before Profit deputy Gino Kenny welcomed the Board’s decision to seek further information and called on South Dublin County Council to reconsider the project.

“Local campaigners and People Before Profit have raised concerns regarding the impact of such a large scale project on the fragile environment of Massy’s Wood,” he said. “We are delighted that ABP obviously shares those concerns.”

He said that it was “now clear” that South Dublin County Council has “failed consistently to conduct environmental impact surveys to a level that satisfies the planning authorities of the state”.

“At a time when the Council claims it has restricted resources for housing and other vital services, it is deeply disappointing that more money would now have to be allocated to repeat inadequate surveying that has already proved costly,” he said.

“We support investment in trails, toilet facilities and forestry but not in multi-million euro vanity projects that undermine the local environment. I now believe that the project should now be abandoned and an alternative plan to manage our mountain ways put before councillors.”

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