Following the announcement that South Dublin County Council supports rebuilding the Silver Bridge, the council should purchase the land surrounding the structure, according to David Gardiner, Workers’ Party representative in Palmerstown-Fonthill. “Though the council have included their support rebuilding the Silver Bridge in the Draft County Development Plan 2022-28, the recent announcement that they have no plans to buy the adjacent land would make you question how serious they are in practice.”
“The go-to excuse for the council is that Fingal County Council owns the bridge and are ultimately responsible for rebuilding it. While this is true, Fingal aren’t going to be willing or able to rebuild the bridge if it doesn’t lead anywhere. We need the council to be proactive, not to be looking for excuses.” “If rebuilt, the Silver Bridge could connect Palmerstown with other areas along the Liffey Valley, including the Strawberry Beds, Chapelizod and the Phoenix Park.”
“It would be a step towards making the Liffey Valley a major recreational resource that local people can make use of on a daily basis. This idea was championed by Workers’ Party TD Tomás MacGiolla in the 1980s, and we still hold firm in the belief that the natural beauty along the Liffey should be accessible to all.” “Given their recent commitment to support rebuilding the Silver Bridge, the council should be willing to put their money where their mouth is and make plans to obtain the land adjacent to the structure.”
