Housing estate name is like something ‘you’d see on a jam jar’
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE name of a new rapid-build social housing development in Tallaght has been likened to a name you’d see on a jam jar by a local councillor, following South Dublin County Council’s decision to name the Brookfield development Cheevers Meadow, without consulting local councillors beforehand, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.
The houses on the Brookfield site will consist of 80 rapid-build three-bedroom units and will be constructed along with five Traveller accommodation units, with the council giving a deadline of summer 2018 to bring the project to completion.
At this week’s Tallaght Area Committee Meeting, Sinn Fein councillor Louise Dunne tabled a motion for the name of the development to be Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, in recognition of the Irish suffragette’s contribution to women’s rights in Ireland, which Cllr Dunne said is especially pertinent as this year marks the centenary of women in Ireland having the right to vote.
Cllr Dunne told The Echo: “I think the name [the council has chosen] is quite lazy.
“I wasn’t impressed, and neither were the other councillors at the meeting.
“I think that naming the estate after Hanna Sheehy Skeffington will lead people to think about why the estate would be called that – it would be a talking point.
“I think as a council we should be celebrating significant historical figures.”
She added: “[The councillors] identified the piece of land, we went to Part 8 public consultation with it, we should have been notified that the development was being named and we should have been consulted about it.
“I believe that the councillors should have had a say on that.”
Fianna Fail councillor Charlie O’Connor remarked that the name reminded him of something you’d see on a jam jar, and said: “The name Cheevers Meadow means nothing to me.
“Cheeverstown makes sense, but they’ve chopped the word in half.
Cllr O’Connor added: “The councillors didn’t know about this even though the council said that they made the decision last June. We were all surprised that the name had been decided.”
In a statement in response to Cllr Dunne’s motion, which was passed by the committee, SDCC said: “In June 2017 a review of historical maps was completed to identify the historical townland name at the St Aidan’s site in order to name this new social housing development.
“The historical townland name of Cheeverstown is the location of the existing development.
“The new name of this development has been approved as Cheevers Meadow and has been confirmed by the Planning Department as of June 2017.”
Since Cllr Dunne’s motion has been passed, it will now be brought forward to the council chamber for a vote at an upcoming council meeting, which may ultimately lead to the name of the development being changed.
A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council told The Echo: “A name of a development is required for the utilities for new connections. The matter will be discussed at a Housing SPC meeting to progress.”
