residents call for port review

SANDyMOuNT and Merrion Residents’ Association (SAMRA) has called on Minister Eamon Ryan to commission an independent review by international experts to determine the most up to date options for the development of Dublin port. Speaking at its AGM recent;y, chairman of SAMRA David Turner said: “Given the widespread opposition (local and political) to the Dublin port company’s plan to significantly expand its footprint and to build ireland’s largest container storage facility beside Sandymount’s uNEScO protected beach its 3FM plan is at a dead end.

“Dublin port needs to go back to the drawing board and consider all options to minimise its impact and maximise the benefits of its unique position for the whole community and not just for the convenience of businesses that use the port” he said.

“We believe the best way to identify the full range of options is to commission international experts who are completely independent and can draw on the most up to date intelligence and what other city based ports have successfully achieved.

“Dublin port’s 3FM plan is also not future proofed. The port will have reached capacity by the time it’s finished. What is the point in spending hundreds of millions of euro on a project that will be out of date by the time it’s complete?”

Major redevelopment plans for Dublin port, including a new bridge across the river liffey to carry lorries, cyclists and potentially a luas line, were published recently.

The bridge and a new 2km road built over the sea on the southside of the river are central to Dublin port company’s plans to develop its lands on the poolbeg peninsula and take port traffic, particularly heavy goods vehicles, off the Tom clarke/ Eastlink bridge.

The aim is to remove heavy goods vehicles off the local roads in the area.

Other parts of the plan include the largest container terminal in ireland, located in front of the ESb’s poolbeg power Station, that will have a 650m deep water berth.