Dublin People - Consultation to continue on Bayside plan

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Consultation to continue on Bayside plan

Wednesday, 16 July 2008

RESIDENTS in Bayside are celebrating the success of a campaign that successfully managed to overturn a planning application that was set to revamp their local shopping centre.
The Save Our Square campaign group is now preparing to meet with Fingal County Council officials and the developer to discuss the future of Bayside Shopping Centre.
Local residents packed out a recent public meeting to discuss their successful appeal against what they believe to be an “unsuitable” development proposed for Bayside Square and the shopping area.
The developer involved in the project, Francis Breslan, said the area is badly in need of renovation.
“We’ve met with the council and are open to negotiations over the plans,” Mr Breslan told Northside People.
“Everyone is putting forward ideas and from there it will be much clearer as to what sort of project is needed.
“This shopping centre needs to be redeveloped; anyone can see that it’s in a very bad way at the moment.”
Meanwhile, the campaign group, chaired by local man Shay Duffy, has now been mandated to enter into consultation over suitable developments for the area and continue to report back to the local community on their progress.
Mr Duffy said the group was very happy with An Bord Pleanala’s decision to overturn the planning permission that was granted last year by Fingal County Council.
He is hoping that an amicable solution, which takes into account the needs of locals, can now be worked out.
“The planning board overturned the proposal on a number of grounds including the scale and height of the development, obtrusiveness and damage to local area, the effect on local traffic from deliveries and unsuitability of the accommodation,” Mr Duffy told Northside People.
“We are back to square one now and the democratically decided parameters set by the local community must be taken into account.
“We have a number of demands including the removal of traffic congestion, satisfactory design and elevation and the retention of the public car park.”
Mr Duffy said the needs of locals have to be taken into account during construction also.
“We intend to meet with Fingal County Council and we are looking to be directly consulted on the matter.
“We will reserve the right to accept or reject future plans to ensure they incorporate our requirements.”
Over 250 people attended the meeting at Bayside Square.
The proposed development was to consist of a large shopping centre and 99 apartments.
However, many residents feared this would have brought traffic chaos to the community.
Fingal County Council will now prepare a study of the area to find out how plans can best accommodate local needs.
“We are very pleased that they are carrying out this study,” Mr Duffy added.
“It is an important step towards recognising the needs of the local community and starting the process of working together with us.
“We will be taking any proposals straight back to a public meeting for discussion by the whole community.”

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