Council asked to examine the handling of breach of planning

SOUTH Dublin County Council have been asked to examine the handling of a breach in planning permission in relation to a stone wall at Floraville Gate Lodge.

Chimway Ltd received planning permission in 2021 for the demolition of Floraville Cottage on Monastery Road, and construction of 10 apartments at the site.

A planning condition included the retention of the wall running along the northern boundary of the site with the exception of the proposed pedestrian entrance along the site entrance.

Patrick Ging, from Clondalkin Historical Society, who was one of a number of residents who objected to the plans at the time, has written a letter too CEO of SDCC Colm Ward seeking examination of the case which is ongoing since November 2022.

In the letter, Mr Ging said the retention of the wall was welcomed by local groups who “have for years emphasised the importance of the stone walls in Clondalkin as they are part of the heritage of the area.”

“The stone walls on Monastery Road are over 250 years old and they were constructed using local stone and lime mortar,” he said.

In correspondence with Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind) in February, SDCC said they investigated a “breach of planning” and confirmed the wall was removed due to structural damage.

The council “explored many options to rectify the matter” and considered the developer made “reasonable efforts” to remedy the damage.

Mr Ging says this “misses the point” and that this is about “preserving a fundamental part of the heritage of Clondalkin.”

Mr Ging claims the developer did not inform SDCC “when the wall was initially knocked” and that they continued to work on the wall “even after receiving the warning letter from SDCC.”

SDCC confirmed to Cllr Timmons in February that costs and repairs to the wall were covered by the local authority.

Mr Ging wants to know why public money was used to “rectify a safety issue created by the developer.”