Agenda item

Motions

 

Motion 1 from Councillors Paddy McCartan and Frank Kennedy

(Carried from September South East Area Committee meeting.)

That this area committee supports the following proposal for the resolution of serious safety issues arising from traffic / parking management and the hazards of legally and illegally parked vehicles being encountered at present on Bloomfield Avenue-the public vehicular access to the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook.

 

The hospital requires 24/7 access for ambulances and fire tenders in case of emergencies. Recently, there has been a significant increase in on-street parking on Bloomfield Avenue. When on-street parking is fully utilised, only one vehicle can use the avenue at any one time as there is insufficient space for two vehicles to pass on the remaining roadway.

 

In addition; since construction work began at Bloomfield House; there have been numerous occasions when large commercial / construction vehicles completely blocked access to and from the hospital. The hospital management notified the Gardaí when illegal parking took place and liaised on a regular basis with the site manager of the construction company to ensure the roadway was kept clear. Notwithstanding these efforts, there continues to be blockages regularly. The hospital is also conscious that construction work is likely to commence in the near future on the St. Mary's, Donnybrook site also on Bloomfield Avenue.

 

The Royal Hospital requests that Bloomfield Avenue be designated as a no parking zone on the left hand side of the avenue from Morehampton Road to the entrance of the hospital. This is particularly important to ensure that emergency vehicles can access the hospital expeditiously, which, if met by oncoming traffic is impossible at present.

Order:Report to councillor.

 

Motion 2 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests a detailed report on each of the points raised in the submission attached to this motion in relation to the planning issues surrounding the Opium pub at 26 Wexford Street and 1a Liberty Lane.

 

1.     In respect of point 1 (planning permission register reference no. 6790/07) levy related inspection back in 2013 indicating that the permission was substantially implemented prior to its expiry and that the structure now completed is in substantial compliance with the permission granted in 2008: This would not appear to be correct, and nearby neighbours are adamant that this development was not carried out or completed in 2013, and by way of sworn statutory declaration and evidence from Google maps, it would appear therefore that 6790/07 would be out of time now. If that is the case then this recent development would indeed be illegal. We would now request a copy of the said levy related inspection, as it would be a most serious matter if this were found to be illegitimate. We would urge the enforcement department to declare the works recently undertaken in relation to 6790/07 to be an illegal development.

 

2.     In respect of point 2, the scope of the illegal activity in this case extends to well beyond the roof, and in fact the original small smoking area has now been developed into a night club which is clearly evident to the planning department. We would like to know how the Planning Department can have overlooked such a major development.

 

3.     In respect of point 3 of the notice and this sworn statutory declaration which has been submitted by one of the owners of the premises indicating that the ground floor of 37 Camden Row was in storage use ancillary to the main premises in excess of seven years. We would request a copy of that declaration. Neighbours are prepared to countermand that with several sworn declarations that No. 37 was being used originally as a sign shop and more recently as a carpentry workshop only, and was in no way ancillary to the Opium super pub. In this case we request the planning department to declare the redevelopment of No. 37 (a beer storage / cooling area with direct connections to Opium), as illegal.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Mary Freehill

Following discussion at the September Arts & Culture Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) regarding making Grand Canal Walkway safe for pedestrians and cyclists that this local area committee urgently arranges a meeting with Waterways Ireland and appropriate Dublin City Council (DCC) personnel to discuss how they will make the area safe in the immediate future. Furthermore, that we also discuss the path repair work needed along the pathway especially from Charlemont to Leeson Street Bridge.

Order:Agreed.

 

Motion 4 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That the South East Area Committee arranges a meeting with Traffic Department, Dublin Bus and Dublin Transport Authority to discuss the arrangements that need to be put in place for the restoration of the 140 and 15 bus routes via St. Stephen’s Green, which was promised on completion of the LUAS works on Dawson Street.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests the manager to discuss with the local residents’ association the possibility of installing a bike shed at Beech Hill Villas as suggested in the email attached and further requests that the gaps in the fence and gate that were to be repaired last summer would actually be repaired.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 6 from Councillor Mary Freehill

That the manager informs us of the number of

a) engineering staff including grades

b) administrative staff including grades

 

in Road Maintenance and Traffic Department. (These figures to be given separately for each department) also to compare staffing levels in 2008 and current level. What vacancies currently exist in each department and for how long?

This can be discussed at the November meeting.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee agrees to locate two "Welcome to Portobello" signs similar to those being installed in other villages such as Donnybrook, Ranelagh and Sandymount, at appropriate entrances to the area to be agreed with local residents.

Order: Motion amended to read “three “Welcome to Portobello” signs”. Report to councillor.

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests the manager to examine the possibility of installing a small playground in the Portobello Harbour as suggested below.

 

In the area in front of the Lower Deck pub there were previously at that location a swing, slide, see-saw etc, so it was a playground before it was the "urban park" now. Not all of the area there, just a corner of it would be fine for a playground).

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 9 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This committee requests the manager to ensure a major upgrade to the roadway on Morehampton Lane, Donnybrook which is in an appalling state. This road, previously a relatively quiet road, is now home to a full street of houses. It may be possible to carry out these works in conjunction with major development at far end of the road currently underway.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 10 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee of the South East Area calls on Dublin City Council to reinstate the coordinators for South East Area safety forum meetings and drug task force immediately. A number of years back, due to cuts, we lost coordinators here who were vital to the running of these services for community. With the upsurge in anti-social behaviour and criminality on our streets and illegal drug use it is time to reinstate the coordinators for this vital work.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 11 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this meeting of South East Area calls on the Planning Department of Dublin City Council to reflect, in writing, the agreement that took place with regards the inclusion of mixed creative use and film studio in the SDZ Poolbeg Planning Scheme. The present document does not reflect the statement that was made by Mr John O Hara that the film studios and other creative use would be given equal parity with the Dublin Port Company’s plan and vision. At present the document appears to be prejudiced and slightly skewed towards port only development in principal.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 12 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

That this committee of the South East Area calls on Dublin City Council Housing Department to purchase, off the plans, the remaining apartments that are to be built in the Charlemont Street rejuvenation project. It is important that we now lay claim to these apartments and purchase them at the reduced rate given what we know, that we will still be in a public housing shortage and crisis over the next number of years. This is an opportunity to invest in the future of our citizens’ housing needs and there should be no hesitation with regards this matter given the fact that in one year alone, we spent over 7 million Euros with just one hotel group accommodating people who were homeless.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 13 from Councillor Mannix Flynn

Given that Dublin City council tenants are to be charged a management fee with regards the apartment blocks they are housed in that this committee recommends that those same tenants be given the opportunities to serve on the management boards of those apartments. This is in keeping with the law and in keeping with best practice elsewhere. This would include all private apartment complexes and apartment blocks that are owned by approved housing bodies. This would be a strong move of inclusion, equality and democratic participation.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 14 from Councillor Paddy McCartan

That the area committee expresses its dismay at the halting of the school building project for St. Christopher’s Primary School, Haddington Road. The 24 classroom co-educational was due to open for the new school year last September. Parents of the children have been told that it will take a further two years to complete the project. While the taxpayer will inevitably foot the bill, the main losers in this whole debacle are the boys and girls who are currently crammed into pre-fabs.

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 15 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee agrees that the Pigeon House site and adjacent buildings and land owned by Dublin City Council will be used only for community, cultural, creative and artistic purposes, and that Dublin City Council will actively pursue the development the Pigeon House site as a community, creative and artistic cluster and will work in collaboration with suitable partner (s) and in consultation with the Arts Office, Arts and Culture Recreation SPC and the area committee and Dublin City Council and that the area committee will not support any development proposals that do not adhere to the above.

Order: Motion deferred.

 

Motion 16 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the area manager to immediately cease the removal of trees from along The Grand Canal, asks her to outline the reasons why there were a number of trees and willow recently removed from the Grand Canal close to where new developments are taking place, who proposed the removal of the trees, whether there was any public consultation regarding the removal of the trees, who authorised this and who carried out the work.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 17 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee calls on the area manager to introduce traffic calming measures for Emorville Avenue, St. Kevin’s Parade and Lombard Street West, Portobello, Dublin 8. These streets are regularly used as a rat run during peak hours with cars travelling at high speed through the area. Measures could include the use of planters as a traffic calming measure, which have worked well in other parts of Portobello and increasing the number of 30km/ph signs in the area.

Order: Report to councillor.

 

Motion 18 from Councillor Claire Byrne

That this area committee agrees to provide a Christmas tree in Portobello Harbour or a similar location on the Portobello area for this coming Christmas.

Order: Report to councillor.