20th October 2003

FAO Siobhán White
An Bord Pleanála
Fax 872 2684
64 Marlborough Street
Dublin 1

Re. Lehaunstown Interchange, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council, Application for approval under section 51 of the Roads Act, 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000

Dear Ms. White,

We request that approval be refused for the modifications sought to the Lehaunstown Interchange. We wish to address the proposed oral hearing. Our reasons for requesting refusal are as follows:

Provision in excess of needs

The proposal appears to significantly increase traffic provision at this junction. Recent thinking on sustainable transportation suggests that allowing for free-flowing car traffic can impact negatively on public transport.

Archaeology

We are concerned at the rather sweeping statement in the EIS that the ‘construction corridor is now devoid of any archaeological features or material’. We suspect that there may be further archaeological remains in the path of the development proposal. If further significant archaeological remains are found we ask that provision be made for their full investigation and retention, if deemed appropriate by the National Museum.

Interference with proposed Light Rail / Metro route

The increased land-take at the Cherrywood roundabout along the rail-bed of the former Harcourt Street railway line may cause difficulties for the provision of the Metro / Luas line through this area. We note that Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council has previously given permission for dwellings to be erected on the former Harcourt Street rail-bed in Shankill village. We ask that drawings indication full provision for the passage of the Luas / Metro through the vicinity of the Cherrywood roundabout be presented.

Inappropriate urban design

The increase in traffic lanes at this interchange, and the provision for increased capacity at the Cherrywood roundabout threaten the proposal to provide a sustainable ‘new town’ at Cherrywood. The proposed traffic layout has more in common with the Tallaght by-pass than with any current thinking on sustainable urban design and town-making. If a new town is to be truly sustainable it should place the pedestrian rather than the car at the heart of any transport-related decisions. We ask that the car-capacity be reduced, and that greater provision be provided for public transport and the ‘slow modes’ of transportation.

A more bicycle, pedestrian and public transport-friendly proposal would be welcomed.

We ask that you acknowledge this submission in writing.  

Sincerely,

Ciarán Cuffe TD

Eamon Ryan TD