Local history with Monica McGill: Have your say in Local Area Plan

ANYONE interested in Clondalkin’s future please note that South Dublin County Council are holding a public consultation on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Áras Chrónáin on Watery Lane.

The consultation will start at 6pm and end at 8pm.

This public consultation is Phase 1 of the county council’s process of drawing up an LAP for Clondalkin.

Anyone wishing to register and take part in a survey is invited to go online and visit the councils website HERE Clondalkin’s LAP will affect everyone in Clondalkin, in many different ways.

It’s important that people take the opportunity to have their say by taking part in the survey and attending the public meeting on May 10.

This is your chance to contribute to the LAP.

No point in grousing about it later if you didn’t take part!

A Local Area Plan is a blueprint of the direction that a local district (such as Clondalkin) will take over the next 5 or 6 years.

It’s an important, legal document dealing with a whole range of topics of interest to people who live, work or visit an area.

Broadly speaking, an LAP could be seen as a mini-development plan for a particular area, fitting in to a broader Development Plan which affects a wider area.

An LAP is part of a stated common purpose between local people and their county council.

South Dublin County Council’s Development Plan for 2022-2028 came into effect on 3rd August 2022.

Thanks to our local County Councillors, it included a decision to formulate an LAP for Clondalkin which will fit inside that larger Development Plan.

In 2021, a number of local groups and individuals came together under the chairmanship of Cllr Francis Timmons and after a lot of hard work drew up The Vision Document for Clondalkin Local Area.

The new Development Plan for 2022-2028 was being drafted at the time.

After consultation with local Councillors, TDs, local groups and interested people who made suggestions, The Vision Document (as it became known) was submitted to South Dublin County Council in June 2022 for consideration and in particular to inform Clondalkin’s LAP.

The Vision Document sets out 233 possible objectives, with 26 Appendices to support them and as background information.

The group working on the Vision Document identified tourism as a vital component of our local economy and recognised that our history and heritage buildings could offer many opportunities to local people and visitors.

Improvements to our locality have been carried out, but many aspects still require attention if our area is to thrive in the coming years.

Large planned developments in housing and industrial estates nearby mean that more people will be in and around Clondalkin soon.

Briefly, the Vision Document’s objectives are under the following headings:

– Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development – Housing, Social & Community Development – Environment, Water and Climate Change – Land Use, Planning and Transportation – Corporate Performance and Change Management.

With regard to our heritage buildings and amenities, The Vision Document suggests that some of our historic buildings could be sympathetically restored and re-used for present and future needs. Our Grand Canal, River Camac and other historic amenities also receive attention.

In this way, Clondalkin’s contribution to Irish and European history could be preserved and maintained to support local tourism, increase employment and provide exciting new ways for students and enthusiasts to learn about our heritage.

In the Vision group’s thinking, it is far better to regard our heritage buildings as assets to be protected/conserved and enhanced, rather than permitting any further disrepair.

Amongst the many other projects included in The Vision Document, it suggests that: * Two annual campaigns be established to bring visitors to Clondalkin.

– The old Sports and Leisure Centre in Clondalkin Park – a project facilitating a multi-purpose community-based amenity in the Community Centre where the disused swimming pool is situated.

This was originally funded by local Clondalkin people and fell vacant when the new Leisure Centre was built beside it.

– Venues are identified for the sale of Community Crafts and Arts and exhibition centres for works made locally.

-Mount St Joseph Cemetery be further protected, preserved and recognised for its part in Irish education and history, in co-operation with local groups.

– St Cuthbert’s Church, Moat and Graveyard (recognised in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) be cleared of litter while awaiting the outcome of the High-Level Task Force’s work concerning St Cuthbert’s Park.

– Clondalkin Oil Mills (known also as Fairview Oil Mills and owned by SDCC and recognised in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) could be the venue for tourists and students interested in learning about Clondalkin’s industrial heritage regarding watermills, milling and agriculture.

– Care and clean-up of the River Camac – a co-operative project between the County Council, stakeholders and local groups already involved.