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Anger over area plan ‘cutbacks’

Thursday, 03 July 2008

LOCAL politicians have reacted strongly to a report which appears to slash the number of community facilities earmarked for Phibsboro under a multi-million euro local area plan.
The recently released report reveals that a number of changes have been made to the level of resources planned for the area.
Politicians are claiming that Dublin City Council’s efforts to scale back on development plans for the area, with particular reference to the Mountjoy Prison site, are in response to OPW submissions.
However, the council says some facilities mapped out in the draft local area plan which went on display recently were only included “due to errors”.
Local councillor Emer Costello (Lab) said cutting back on community facilities was unacceptable.
“I’m not happy with the OPW’s recommendations in relation to the Mountjoy site,” she told Northside People.
“It seems there has been an attempt to dilute the number of community facilities set out in the Phibsboro Area Plan.
“Mountjoy is one of two publicly owned sites included in the plan, which is why the site should have more to offer local residents once the prison is decommissioned.”
In its submissions, the OPW expressed concern that the site would be “over burdened” with community facilities.
“The requirement to provide two schools, a library, an arts theatre, a public museum and a scout hall represents a serious inequality in the distribution of community infrastructure and places an unreasonable burden on the site in terms of its commercial viability,” the report states.
The OPW’s submission also queries the need for the provision of four new schools in the area and provides estimates for school-going population.
“The submission expresses concern regarding the operation, management and viability of the flagship arts centre with auditorium space,” the report continues.
“The submission contends that the serious inequality in distribution of community infrastructure places an unreasonable burden on the site in terms of its commercial viability.”
The OPW has also suggested that a cap on the height of buildings at existing levels should be removed and has proposed that buildings in the order of six to 12 storeys should be permitted.
In response to the submissions, Dublin City Council has admitted that some of its initial plans may not have been appropriate.
“It is acknowledged that the number and extent of facilities to be provided on the Mountjoy site were incorrectly set out in the draft LAP (Local Area Plan) due to errors,” the report states.
“The requirement is for one school only with facilities that are accessible to the community.
“There is no requirement to re-locate the existing adjoining scout hall on the site.”
It was added: “Amendments to the draft plan would result in the provision of the following community facilities on the Mountjoy Site: a school facility, a public library, a museum, a public plaza and an outdoor recreational space along the canal.”
However, the council has insisted that the current building heights are appropriate.
Local representatives will vote on the amendments this week.

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