Correspondence

Letters sent and received by Dundalk Cycling Alliance.

Dundalk Town Council Chair March 2006

Letter to Councillor Martin Bellew, Chairman Dundalk Town Council from the Dundalk Cycling Alliance dated 20 May 2006.

Dear Councillor,

The Dundalk Cycling Alliance understands that a "Draft" Review to the Dundalk and Environs Development Plan, with regard to Cycle Lanes and general public amenities, along the PPA 12 area and the rest of the Castletown River will be made available to the Town Councillors by the end of June 2006. Furthermore we understand that the maps and the written detail would be then available to the general public and groups such as ourselves thereafter. This procedure is I believe is as it should be so that there can be maximum input from our elected representatives as well as the opportunity for participation and comment from ourselves.

Rather than pursuing every detail of the plan through "Notices of Motions" from the Councillors, our group believes that the officials should be allowed to get on with the job - particularly after the overall positive meeting of minds that we had with senior Engineers and officials on the 18/01/06.

While there appears to be a general consensus on many elements of the plan our group will still want to make future comment at the later public consultation stage under the following headings:

  • Safety for pedestrians and cyclists from bullies and muggers, restrictions with regard to drinking in public places and under bridges.
  • The funding of CCTV cameras at specific locations along this route, specifically under and above bridges. The throwing of stones by youngsters from the railway line above the bridge is also a probability. Graffiti will also need to be addressed.
  • It will be important to establish visibility of the cycle route by residents from any future housing that may be built facing the river. How will future housing impact on the cycling traffic along this route? What provision will be made for the storage and parking of bicycles at new houses along this route?
  • The final confirmation of the quality of the surface, the width of the paths and their markings and signage.
  • The maintenance of the paths and cycle ways and the cleanup of broken glass and rubbish along the route by mechanised road sweepers.
  • The detail of the trees and shrubs along the route and their maintenance.
  • The provision of seating for pedestrians. Some car parking may be needed.
  • The removal of shopping trolleys and traffic cones from the riverbank, the provisions of facilities for anglers; and the issue of the maintenance of the water level of the river.
  • The removal of cars and other rubbish on lands between the 20-meter wide cycle path avenue and the existing houses back from the river.
  • The safety for pedestrians and cyclists at any road intersections along the river as well as the alternative options that could be considered to completely avoid any interfacing with vehicular traffic.
  • The funding of a public amenity such as this is, will in our view, be "most quickly" achieved by "ring fencing" development levies or by imposing obligations on developers to provide it during the construction process. This or other funding mechanisms have yet to be discussed or debated by the Town Councillors.

Since the Plan has yet to be fully developed and since further detail still needs to be considered by the Councillors in making this a truly popular and successfulpublic amenity; I request that you would ask the following question:

Has any Senior Planner or Official already made a premature formal application for funding to the Department of the Environment, in respect of PPA 12 or the Castletown River, "in advance" of the formal consideration of this Draft Development Plan by the Town Councillors, and before any display to the general public?

If the answer to this question is yes: can a copy of this submission be circulated to all Town Councillors immediately? My understanding is that only the Chairman of the Council has authority to ask such a question, hence my letter to you.

If such a plan has indeed been submitted to the Department, then in our view the procedures for full democratic accountability and transparency has been breached. We believe that the Councillors are being excluded from the planning process.

Yours Sincerely,

Ollan Herr.

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