September 2021
ULSARA
NEWS
YOUR LOCAL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Cherishing Heritage Preserving Community
THE UPPER LEESON STREET AREA RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER WHAT’S INSIDE
Planning Some of the submissions and appeals we made in 2020-21.
Environment Climate change, the Dodder Greenway, Swifts, and the activism of Patrick Geddes.
Get involved A call to action! Ulsara needs skills, knowledge and helping hands. Join us. Get involved.
Books Books and authors of local interest published this year.
Local Directory Some of the great local businesses who deserve our support and custom.
Save a life Find your nearest AED, and how to help someone having a cardiac arrest.
Valuing our public spaces One of the positive outcomes of the pandemic may be our (re) discovery and enjoyment of the public spaces in our area. Restrictions on indoor meetings and social distancing meant that many of us found solace and community in the parks and walks in our area. This was particularly true for those without gardens, in flat and house-shares, and working from home. As the year progressed, we started to see changes to our streets, with space for sitting, eating, walking and cycling being prioritised. The long term impact of the pandemic on public space is yet to emerge, but there is a real opportunity to be thoughtful and holistic about the design and use of public space in the future, including how public space can protect and promote personal and planetary health. This can only be achieved by active communities, professionals and public representatives working together to make the design of public spaces central to all urban planning.
Bus Connects, the NTA project to develop priority bus corridors, is progressing slowly. After a third round of consultation in winter 2020, a final draft planning application is being prepared for submission this autumn to Bord Pleanála. We await the final plans but are reassured that the original proposal to remove many mature trees in the Pembroke Road area has been withdrawn. Ulsara’s comments on the most recent iteration of the plans focused on revised traffic plans for the Waterloo/Upper Baggot/ Pembroke Streets junction and the likely implications for adjoining roads. When the NTA formally submits proposals to Bord Pleanála, there will be a further opportunity for Ulsara and residents to comment on the plans. The latest plans for the routes through Pembroke Rd and Morehampton Rd can be found at busconnects.ie.