Local Councillor Alan Edge commented on two topics at the October meeting of South Dublin County Council.
In regards the Pearse Bros Part 8, the Firhouse – Bohernabreena representative voted against the Part 8 for age friendly accommodation in Pearse Bros Park because of concerns expressed recently by the Planning Regulator that this policy has the potential to ‘prejudice’, ‘dilute’ or ‘undermine’ our aim to preserve and protect open space and recreational amenity. Cllr Edge said “This issue is an important one for councillors, no matter which area we happen to represent. The observation of the regulator, which is not binding in this case, nevertheless casts doubt on our policy and led me to call on councillors to consider whether we should follow through on a policy when we are told we may need either a change policy on older person’s accommodation or to abandon the objective to provide for open space and recreational amenity for people. I can’t and won’t support removing the objective to provide and protect open space. To take green space from a community should be a measure of last resort and not standard practice. I remarked that it’s unfortunate for residents of St Aongus that the observation wasn’t available last month and that the deferral sought wasn’t granted.”
In relation to the Arts Strategy, Cllr Edge commented on the amazing work done by the Council’s Arts Team and also by Tallaght Community Arts during the pandemic, in particular as regards reaching out to communities and young people who might otherwise be overlooked. He also welcome the commitment of the Council’s Director of Planning to ‘a coherent aesthetic between the new development of Chamber Square and this piece of Public Realm improvement between the Luas and Rua Red’.
