Disputed laneway is being retained with calls for safety measures to be implemented
By Mary Dennehy
THE right of way on an unlit laneway between Raheen and Whitebrook will not now be extinguished following recommendations from an Oral Hearing report.
However, the council must implement the recommendations of the Oral Hearing report on the proposal “quickly and effectively”.
The unlit laneway between Raheen and Whitebrook
As previously reported in The Echo, the unlit laneway has been the source of much debate over the decades, with South Dublin County Council holding a public consultation and an Oral Hearing to reach a solution.
According to a report compiled after an Oral Hearing into the proposed extinguishment of the right of way, 304 people were in favour of extinguishing the laneway while 359 were against.
A number of reasons and arguments were submitted to the Oral Hearing on why the laneway should remain open, and why it should be closed.
However in his conclusions, Niall Hayden, a retired Chief Engineer who carried out the Oral Hearing in March, said: “I recommend that the proposal to extinguish the public right of way between Raheen Close and Whitebrook Park be refused and I recommend to the council that the implementation of the following remedial measures be considered to improve and enhance the public safety and security.”
Anti-vandal public lighting
Recommendations include, the provision of high quality anti-vandal public lighting along the right of way from Raheen Road to Cheeverstown Road and the examination of a community-based CCTV plan, with cameras linked directly to Tallaght Garda Station.
The provision of litter bins in at least four locations, a mobility suitability survey on the footpath surfaces within Whitebrook Park, the examination of any blind spots or alcoves and permitting residents on Raheen Close to increase the height of their rear boundary walls.
The Oral Hearing report, and its conclusion that the proposed extinguishment of the right of way be refused, was accepted in council chambers last week – with calls now being made for South Dublin County Council to implement the recommendations made.
Tallaght councillor Charlie O’Connor (Fianna Fáil) told The Echo: “The report was accepted and it’s very important now that we’ve gone through the process that the recommendations are carried out by the council quickly and effectively.
“The council needs to demonstrate to the community that the recommendations will be dealt with . . . the community needs to be confident that the recommendations made [through the Oral Hearing] will be implemented.
“A decision has been made and we now need to deliver the result.”
Cllr O’Connor said that it is his understanding that the council is now preparing plans for works.
When contacted by The Echo, a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: “The recommendations have been referred to the relevant parties concerned for their attention.”
