Phibsborough Community Update – February / March 2014

27th February, 2014

PHIBSBOROUGH LOCAL AREA PLAN TO BE EXTENDED
Dublin City Councillors have agreed to retain the statutory-based Local Area Plan for the Phibsborough and Mountjoy district. By agreeing to the retention of a statutory-based plan, the Phibsborough Local Area Plan will be extended until 2019. This decision will mean that the City Council will undertake a public consultation process that will allow individual residents, community groups and associations and local representatives to examine the need for amendments to the existing plan so that it reflects the needs of the community from a planning perspective over the coming five years. The main purpose of this statutory-based Plan will be outline the type of development that may be permitted on some of the large-scale sites that remain in Phibsborough. Sites such as Dalymount Park, the Shopping Centre or the former Cash & Carry site along the North Circular Road. From information supplied to Fine Gael Councillors earlier this month, I expect the consultation process to begin in mid April. It is hoped that the consultation process and the relevant statutory Council meetings can all be concluded in advance of the October 6th deadline, the sixth anniversary of the coming into effect of the Plan. I will work with my Fine Gael colleagues Councillor Mary O’Shea, David Rouse and Jimmy Prendergast to keep you updated of developments in respect of this issue.

ROYAL CANAL CYCLE ROUTE PLAN
Dublin City Council engineers have prepared a preliminary design for the Royal Canal Premium Cycle Route from the North Strand to Phibsborough and from Phibsborough through to Ashtown. It is now envisaged that work will take place between now and Easter to enable the plans be prepared as a Part VIII Planning Application to be initiated by Councillors later in the spring. The coming weeks will see a consultation process take place with local community groups and other interested bodies in order to agree on a formal planning application that will receive the support of Councillors. I have spoken with the Minister for Transport who has advised me that the National Transport Authority has committed to providing the money for this project to advance to the formal planning phase this year.

NEW PHIBSBOROUGH CIVIC PARK PLAN UPDATE
As previously advised Dublin City Council is preparing plans for the development of a new civic park at the Royal Canal Bank Linear Park along the North Circular Road. The Council intends to upgrade the section of the park land around the statue of the ‘Soldier’ at the North Circular Road end of the Royal Canal Bank. The Senior Executive in the Parks Department has informed me that his Department is now consulting with the Roads and Traffic Department to develop proposals that compliments plans for the new cycle route along the Canal. It is envisaged that both of these projects will be linked up. Further details are expected in the coming weeks and I will work to keep you updated of this additional information.

REMINDER ABOUT SAME DAY BIN COLLECTIONS
From next week, the new City Council Bye Laws governing the presentation and collection of household and commercial waste will come into effect. One of the most significant regulations included in the Bye Laws is the introduction of ‘Same Day Bin Collections’. This means all waste collection operators will have to remove presented household rubbish on the same day across a given district. For residents in Phibsborough, bin collection day will be Tuesday, irrespective of which operator you have been signed up to. I am working with Fine Gael Councillors to ensure that the Council undertakes a greater level of street cleaning following the full implementation of these new laws.

SHANDON TRAFFIC MATTERS
The Traffic Department of Dublin City Council has been requested to examine a proposal to introduce a Pay & Display parking system across the Shandon district. The Traffic Advisory Group has been undertaking a number of surveys and investigations to assess whether the proposal can be implemented. Further meetings of local residents and Council officials have also occurred as part of the examining of this request. No decision has yet been taken by the City Council but I will keep residents updated of the Council’s deliberations on the matter.

CITY-WIDE POLICE BURGLARY OPERATION
Concern about the apparent increase in attempted burglaries has been raised with me at various residents’ meeting I have attended in recent weeks. This is a worrying development and it is one that I am liaising closely with senior Gardai about. The Chief Superintendent has advised me this week that local Gardai have been involved in a City-wide operation put in place by the Assistant Commissioner for Dublin to target the threat of burglaries. Targeted burglary patrols have now been introduced across the Division to combat the risk of homes being broken into and residents being burgled. This initiative comprises of mobile patrols that are directed and controlled by the Garda Command & Control Centre. Local Gardai are directed to carry out patrols in specified areas at specified times. I hope that the successful implementation of is initiative will mean that the homes of residents across Phibsborough are better protected from the risk of break-in.

INTRODUCING DAVID ROUSE & JIMMY PRENDERGAST
Fine Gael has recently selected two candidates to contest the forthcoming Local Elections that will take place on May 23rd. They are David Rouse and Jimmy Prendergast. David Rouse is originally from Co.Sligo, lives in Royal Canal Park and served as Chairman of the Royal Canal Residents’ Association for many years. He can be contacted at 086 355 0951 or by email at daverouse@gmail.com. Jimmy Prendergast is originally from Stoneybatter but has lived in Finglas since the early 1980s. Jimmy has served as Chairman of Finglas Celtic FC for nine years and worked on Fassaugh Avenue for twelve years. He can be contacted at 087 663 4285