PHIBSBOROUGH LOCAL AREA – ISSUES PAPER PUBLISHED
The process of revising and amending the Phibsborough Local Area Plan is now underway. Dublin City Council recently published an Issues Paper, which represents the first step in preparing a revised statutory plan for the Phibsborough and Mountjoy district. Details of the Issues Paper can be found on the City Council’s website at www.dublindublincity.ie. In addition to that, four public consultation sessions have been planned. These will take place on:
•THURSDAY 10th JULY from 1pm – 4pm: St. Francis Xavier Centre. 65 Lower Dorset Street.
•TUESDAY 15th JULY from 9.30am – 12.30pm & 7pm – 9pm: St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Cabra Road.
•SATURDAY 19th JULY from 10am – 1pm: Wellington Centre, 26 Upper Wellington Street.
Officials from the Planning Department of Dublin City Council will be present at each of the information sessions to answer any questions you have with regards the Issues Paper or the process involved in revising the Local Area Plan. Local residents, community groups and other interested persons can make a submission to the City Council outlining their views on what should be contained in the revised Local Area Plan. You have until Tuesday August 5th to make your views known to the Council. Submissions can be made in writing and should be addressed to John Bruckshaw, Planning & Economic Development Dept, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. Alternatively, you can email your submission to localareaplan@dublincity.ie. Submissions must be with Dublin City Council before 4.30pm on August 5th next.
PHIBSBOROUGH POLICING MATTERS
I continue to liaise with local Gardaí about the need to tackle the constant public drinking occurring in our parks and vacant sites. Officers from both Mountjoy and the Bridewell are involved in Operation Irene which is designed to target this very problem. In recent days, I have written to the owners of the Old Bakery Site, which is located behind homes on Leinster Street, urging them to take steps to better secure the site. Teenagers and young children have been gaining access to the site and have been involved with anti-social behaviour. Local Gardaí are also monitoring the situation and taking action wherever necessary. The Chief Superintendent has advised me that his officers are receiving very positive feedback as they continue with the Small Area Policing initiative. Community Gardaí will continue calling to homes across the summer months to discuss your policing concerns. Other issues relating to the theft of insurance and tax discs from parked vehicles is still being investigated by local Gardaí as are further incidents of car vandalism that have been occurring recently.
PHIBSBOROUGH GRAFFITI REMOVAL
The Public Domain Unit of Dublin City Council has been removing incidents of graffiti in various sites across the Phibsborough district in the past number of weeks. The Probation Service, the Council’s Corporate Contractor and the City Council’s Waste Management Services have removed graffiti along the Royal Canal Bank, Phibsborough Road, Mountjoy Street, Berkeley Road and St. Peter’s Court. As always, if there are items of graffiti on your street or avenue, please get in touch with me and I will arrange for its removal.
SECURING THE STONE VILLA BUILDING
Residents across Phibsborough continue to express their concern to myself and Councillor Ray McAdam about the dereliction of the Stone Villa building along the North Circular Road. City Council officials tried to undertake an inspection of the building but due to its continued deterioration, a full inspection was not possible. The City Council subsequently notified the owner of the building that specific stabilisation works were necessary and that plans to carry out such repairs would have to be approved by the Council’s Conservation Department. Councillor McAdam sought a report on the matter at this month’s City Council meeting and was informed that initial works have been approved and that repairs are underway. We understand that a follow-up inspection of the building will take place shortly to ensure that all stabilisation works meet the requirements as set down by Dublin City Council.
PHIBSBOROUGH TRAFFIC MATTERS
The Traffic Advisory Group of Dublin City Council is still considering requests from local residents for the introduction of Double Yellow Lines along St. Vincent Street North and O’Connell Avenue. I understand that a recommendation is likely to be made by Traffic Engineers within the next number of weeks. As soon as that decision has been made public, I will ensure that residents on both streets are informed. The Traffic Department will shortly install Double Yellow Lines on the laneway between 23 and 24 St. Ignatius Road at the request of residents on the street. I understand that parked cars along the laneway were preventing vehicular access for residents to their homes.
CLOSURE OF CABRA ROAD COUNCIL OFFICE
Following on from May’s Local Election, the Chief Executive of Dublin City Council proposed a significant re-structuring of how the Council serves the public. Included in these plans were changes to local Council offices and the level of services to be provided locally. Sadly, the closure of the Cabra Road Council office formed part of this restructuring. When the matter came before Councillors last month, only two Councillors opposed the plan, including my colleague Councillor Ray McAdam. Like Councillor McAdam, I am opposed to the closure of the Cabra Office as the staff, located there, provide an essential service to the communities in Phibsborough, Cabra and the North-West Inner City. Its closure will mean there is no public Council presence across these areas, leaving local community groups and residents’ associations having to liaise with officials in Finglas or Ballymun instead. I hope that this decision will be reviewed and that our community retains its direct link with Dublin City Council.