DEVLIN REQUEST SUPPORT FOR PURCHASING OF ASHCASTLE SITE
(BESIDE BIRD SANCTUARY) BOOTERSTOWN:
MOTION:
That this Council supports the request from, and the efforts of, various campaigners, for one or more of the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government, the Office of Public Works, Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, to seek to acquire from the National Asset Management Agency, the lands bordered by the Booterstown Marsh & Nature Reserve, the Rock
Road and the DART line, known as the former ‘Ashcastle’ site.
MANAGERS REPORT:
Given the location of the site immediately adjacent to the Nature Reserve, which is a designated Special Protection Area, and its close proximity to Dublin Bay which carries a number of special designations the clear preference of both Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Dublin City Council is that it should come into public ownership in order to ensure that the Nature Reserve is fully safeguarded.
At the same time the site has limited commercial value as its potential for either commercial or indeed active recreational development is severely constrained by the existing zonings under the current Dublin City Council and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Development Plans and by its proximity to the Nature Reserve. If the site is acquired by the local authorities significant additional funding will have to be provided by the local authorities to develop it as a passive recreation/public amenity
space in a manner that is fully consistent with its location adjacent to the Nature Reserve. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for the local authorities to expend significant funds on acquiring the site.
A joint bid, in the region of €90,000, was submitted by the two Councils in early January 2012. We were extremely disappointed when the receiver responded by advising us that a decision had been made to appoint Jones Lang LaSalle to dispose of the site on the open market. The City Valuer subsequently submitted a revised bid in the region of €200,000 which he understood at the time was above the highest
offer that had been made and above the reserve.
The City Valuer was contacted in early March by a representative of NAMA and advised that the sale process had concluded with a bid of €400,000. He was also advised that if the two Councils matched this bid a recommendation would be made to the Board of NAMA to dispose of the site to us. We have refused to match the €400,000 bid and expressed our disappointment that NAMA seem unable to take any account of the broader public interest.
DEVLIN REQUESTS COUNCIL TO CLEAN-UP THE UNDERPASS ON FRASCATI ROAD:
Fianna Fáil Councillor Cormac Devlin has requested the Council to clean-up the underpass on Frascati Road. The Council stated that the "Cleansing Section (Environment Culture & Community Department) has advised that this location will be included on their cleaning schedule. In relation to painting the walls, this will have to be further considered in relation to the availability of resources to carry out such work.
RESIDENTS OF ROWAN PARK AVENUE ASK DEVLIN
FOR ROAD SAFETY OFFICER REVIEW:
Residents' of Rowan Park Avenue asked Councillor Devlin to ask have Road Safety Officer conduct a Road Safety Review. The Council agreed to carry out a review and to meet with a representative from the residents to discuss the findings.
