Winter 4pp A4 Newsletter

Councillor

William LAVELLE LUCAN NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2010

Reclaiming Our Parks In September the South Dublin Joint Policing Committee adopted a landmark new report on the future policing and management of our public parks. The report entitled ‘Reclaiming our Parks’ was prepared by a committee chaired by William and also included council managers and community Gardai.

This report made 52 recommendations on matters such as improved policing, CCTV, staffing of parks, enhanced community involvement and strengthening council byelaws.

William is now working to seek implementation of the recommendations with particular focus on improving the safety and cleanliness of parks in Lucan including Griffeen Valley Park and Willsbrook Park. William’s immediate priorities include: • Strengthened and easier-to-enforce park bye-laws; • Establishment of new park safety teams including Gardai and Park Rangers; • CCTV in parks – to be rolled out over the next 2-3 years under the council’s ‘Public Realm Transformation’ Initiative; • Lockable gates (controlled by electronictimers) at certain entrances as requested by local residents’ associations.

• Purpose built changing rooms in Griffeen Valley Park, to replace containers.

A full copy of the report can be read or downloaded at www.williamlavelle.ie

South Dublin

Joint Policing

Committee

RE CL AI M IN G

OUR Report of the Par ks sub-group

South Dublin Joint

September 2010

Policing Comm ittee

www.williamlavelle.ie

PA RK S

Cllr. William Lavelle, Gay Mitchell MEP & Senator Frances Fitzgerald at Lucan Festival family fun-day

Fine Gael Leader appoints William to head up new Liffey Valley Forum In July, Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny visited Lucan to meet both the Lucan Planning Council and Liffey Valley Park Alliance. This was followed in October by Enda completing a cross-county walking tour of Liffey Valley.

On foot of these two visits Fine Gael has established a new Fine Gael Liffey Valley Forum.

The purpose of this forum is to bring together elected representatives from Dublin & Kildare in order to coordinate Fine Gael policy on the Liffey Valley including ensuring the highest level of protection for the valley and developing the

valley’s recreational and tourism amenity and the possible economic return and job creation opportunities for areas such as Lucan.

Enda Kenny has appointed Lucan Cllr. William Lavelle as Chairman of this new Forum.

William is using this new position to lead the Fine Gael campaign for an extension of the Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order and to push proposals to open up walking and cycling routes through the valley.

Fine Gael Ready for General Election Fine Gael has selected Senator Frances Fitzgerald and Cllr. Derek Keating to contest the upcoming general election in Dublin Mid West. Fine Gael is aiming to win two seats in this constituency, so as to rid Ireland of this appalling Fianna Fail/Green government and more importantly to try to restore confidence and hope to Ireland through sorting out our public finances and economy. For details on Fine Gael policies or to assist in the upcoming general election campaign please visit www. finegael.ie or contact William.

PAGE 1

Lavelle Secures Action on Derelict Building Sites

William Supports Residents in appeals against controversial planning decisions

Over recent months William has been working to resolve complaints regarding the untidy and unsafe state of vacant building sites including the Coolamber site next to Finnstown and the site behind Tullyhall. At the September meeting of the Lucan area committee William secured agreement for his motion to invoke the ‘Derelict Sites Act 1990’ and to have council inspectors investigate both sites. Council officials subsequently accepted both sites are officially ‘derelict’ and issued a legal notice to the site owners listing a number of works to be completed in order to tidy-up the sites and to provide proper and secure boundary treatment.

• Bord Pleanala urged to overturn Clonburris Local Area Plan

Supporting Commerce and Jobs in Lucan Village Earlier this year the council’s Economic Development Committee accepted a proposal co-sponsored by William to establish a workgroup to examine ways to better support commercial activity and jobs in our county’s traditional urban centres including Lucan Village. William arranged for Lucan Chamber of Commerce to meet with the workgroup.

• William played a leading role over the Summer in successfully defeating the controversial proposals to increase parking charges and introduce Saturday parking in Lucan Village.

• William is also supporting local business interests to establish a permanent Market in Lucan Village following the success of the market stall initiative during the Lucan Festival in September.

Tackling Lucan South Litter Problems In April, Cllr. William Lavelle convened an on-site meeting in Lucan with South Dublin County Council management to examine the area’s litter problems and to discuss William’s request for improved litter-picking and cleansing services for the Lucan South area.

William has now proposed that the council introduce a permanent handcart service for Lucan South, in particular for areas around the Ballyowen Castle & Griffeen shops.

Council management have agreed to consider such a service under reforms proposed under the Croke Park Agreement.

William has been working with the ‘Combined Griffeen Planning Action Group’, a cross-community group established to campaign against the controversial planning application for 898 high-density apartments on lands adjoining Griffeen Avenue.

• Appeal seeks improvement to Moy Glas infill-housing Over the past year William has worked closely with Moy Glas residents in responding to a proposed infill residential development Moy Glas Way. In October William lodged an appeal to an Bord Pleanala on behalf of local residents to seek to improve the proposed development as was granted permission by the council.

In September William and the campaign group lodged a further 26-page submission to an Bord Pleanala. This submission called on Bord Pleanala to require a significant reduction of the proposed building heights along Griffeen Avenue and of the overall number of residential units thus reducing the potential negative traffic impact of this proposed development. Ultimately, given that the current high-density proposal in general complies with the Clonburris Local Area Plan which was adopted by the then councillors in 2008, William and the local campaign group are now requesting the board to overrule elements of the Local Area Plan.

• Victory for residents as Rosse Court take-away refused In October Bord Pleanala decided to refuse planning permission for a proposed Chinese takeaway at Rosse Court Hall on foot of an appeal lodged

by William and residents against the decision by South Dublin County Council planners to grant planning permission. This take-away would have led to serious problems of anti-social behaviour, odours, noise and parking all of which will have a significant detrimental impact of the residential amenity, public health and road safety of Rosse Court.

William with Griffeen Avenue Residents

In particular residents are seeking: enhanced road safety, restrictions on construction traffic, measures to address anti-social behaviour along the old road embankment, improved landscaping & increased separation distances to existing housing.

Dublin Bus Changes The changes to Dublin Bus routes and timetables have proven a unmitigated disaster causing a lot of local anger. During the recent public consultation William joined with many residents in making representations to Dublin Bus management outlining concerns regarding

the proposed route and timetable changes.

However the concerns of commuters and residents were ignored and now we are seeing the problems. Dublin Bus has promised William that they will conduct a full review in January.

Working for Lucan Keeping You Informed PAGE 2

www.williamlavelle.ie

Seeking Solutions to Lucan’s Traffic Problems Outer Ring Road At the November meeting of the Lucan area committee council engineers presented a report requested by William showing the number of cars using junctions along the Outer Ring Road. The figures showed that the main junctions were all operating at or above maximum design capacity projected for 2019. William is now seeking to use these statistics as a strong evidence-based justification for junction improvement works to reduce peak-hour tailbacks on approach roads to these junctions including Ballyowen Road, Willsbrook Road, Castle Road & Griffeen Avenue.

Newcastle Road Traffic congestion on Newcastle has significantly worsened over recent months.

William has raised this matter at council meetings. Engineers have agreed to reconfigure traffic light sequencing and install new yellow-box markings at roundabouts. The situation is under constant review.

Improving Pedestrian Safety • Two new crossings for Lucan Village In November the council commenced the installation of two new pedestrian crossings in Lucan Village: on Celbridge Road close to Lucan Garda Station and at La Banca. William continues to seek footpath improvement works in Lucan Village, in particular in the vicinity of the Garda Station and on Celbridge Road.

• Major improvements in vicinity of Lucan Educate Together William has been working closely with parents from the Lucan Educate Together Park Safe Programme. In April, William secured the long-awaited completion and opening of the footpath at the Willsbrook Road/Mount Bellew roundabout and these works were followed by the installation of a new pedestrian crossing. Road markings and

Earlier this year William launched an initiative which led to the formation of the Esker Cemetery Committee. William has met with the group on numerous occasions and has arranged a meeting between the committee and council managers. During the Summer William also convened an on-site meeting at Esker Cemetery to allow councillors to discuss maintenance issues with council managers and staff. On foot of William’s request for better staffing, council management have agreed to include proposals to improve staffing resources for burial grounds as part of the transformation agenda being pursued under the Croke Park agreement. William has also won agreement to improve the litterdumps in the cemetery which have become a shocking eye-sore.

ith cillor to meet w “The only coun at us t en and repres the committee m ia ill W . s been Cllr council level ha Lavelle” y Committee – Esker Cemeter ed in the Chairman quot ’ ‘Liffey Champion

• Pedestrian Crossings for Griffeen Avenue William has secured agreement and funding for his proposal to provide a signalised crossing on Griffeen Avenue to link both parts of Griffeen Valley Park. William is continuing his ongoing efforts to secure a signalised pedestrian crossing for the other end of Griffeen Avenue at Oldbridge.

• School-time HGV Restriction for Newcastle Road William has been working in the council to seek to introduce this restriction, Unfortunately under the law Garda approval is required. On William’s proposal, the council have again requested the Garda Commissioner to approve this restriction.

Update on School Buildings Campaign • St Andrews NS

William working closely with Esker Cemetery Committee

guard-railings have also been provided outside the school.

South Dublin County Council has granted outline planning permission for a new school building at St. Edmundsbury, close to the existing school. William supported this planning application and continues to lobby the Minister for Education to progress this building project.

• Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada A planning application has been submitted for relocation of the prefabs to facilitate a new permanent building.

Coláiste Cois Life, of which William is Cathaoirleach, is accommodating this temporary relocation on it’s lands. The Department of Education will follow-up this relocation with a separate planning application for a permanent building.

• Lucan South Community College The Department of Education have asked Co. Dublin VEC and Educate Together to work together on a joint community college for Lucan South. Talks are continuing and it is hoped a school will soon be delivered on the site at Kishoge recently sold by the council by the Department of Education.

• Extension to Lucan Community College Lucan Community College is in desperate need of an extension so as to increase capacity to cope with record demand. A design-team is due to be appointed in March 2011.

Family Day Out: William with his mother Patricia, wife Deirdre and sister Brenda at the Liffey Descent 2010

Working for Lucan Keeping You Informed www.williamlavelle.ie

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William’s Community Employment Campaign

Join Young Fine Gael - Visit www.yfg.ie

During 2010, William has been leading the campaign to seek the establishment of workplacement schemes under the auspices of the county council so as to provide work opportunities for local unemployed persons and to support front-line council services. On foot of William’s efforts council management are now engaging with FÁS to establish a work-placement programme as proposed by me. The council are also to provide opportunities for a number of apprentices to finish their training under council supervision.

Contact William Address: 16 Lána na bPáirce, Ballyowen Lane, Lucan, Co. Dublin Phone: 087 410 7885 Email: wlavelle@sdublincoco.ie Web: www.williamlavelle.ie

William helps Young Fine Gael Recruitment Campaign at UCD Freshers week 2010

William seeks to develop 12th Lock Heritage and Recreation Zone

Find William on Facebook In addition to being a member of South Dublin County Council William is also: •

Member of South Dublin Joint Policing Committee - Chairman of JPC sub-group on tackling anti-social behaviour in our parks

•

Member of County Dublin VEC Cathaoirleach, Coláiste Cois Life Board member, Lucan Community College

•

Board member of CPLN Area Partnership

•

Member of the South Dublin Strategic Policy Committees on Economic Development & Planning The Environment Transport

PAGE 4

William pictured at the 12th Lock at Heritage Week Event December 2010.

William has secured agreement for preparation of new masterplan for a heritage and recreation zone around the 12th Lock and Grand Canal in Lucan. Additional playing pitches for Lucan Sarsfields will hopefully form part of this plan.

Supporting Local Community Groups • New Foróige Youth Group In July William convened a meeting between Foróige and the council’s Community Department to examine opportunities to establish new youth services in the Lucan area. On foot of this meeting Foróige have launched a new youth club based in Lucan Sports and Leisure Centre at Griffeen Valley Park.

• Griffeen Community Development Group The GCDG have been operating a successful ‘mother and toddler’ group for the past year and in November established a new women’s group.

William has met with the group and is assisting the group in future development plans and in seeking financial support.

www.williamlavelle.ie