Plans for €15m Hell Fire visitor centre put forward
By Maurice Garvey
A PLANNING application for the proposed €15 million Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre in South Dublin County has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
The joint development proposal by South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership is to create a new “gateway” to the Dublin Mountains located at the combined Massy’s Wood /Estate and Montpelier Hill, incorporating the legendary Hell Fire Club site.
Plans envisage a visitor centre, café, shop, a rambler’s lounge, toilets and conversion of 26 hectares of the Hellfire forest to an amenity open space.
There will be enhanced access to the site with increased car parking (275 parking spaces) and public transport, road improvements and the construction of a new footpath to the site.
The proposal will also deliver improved quality and quantity of walks and trails, incorporating an iconic tree-top walkway/bridge from Montpelier Hill into Massy’s Wood.
A separate proposal – which is dependant solely on securing independent financial backing – could see a cable car linking Tallaght with the Wicklow mountains.
Reaction to the plans in the wider public has been mixed.
Over 5,000 people have signed a petition objecting to the proposed development, according to the Save the Hellfire Team, who made a submission to ABP on Monday.
Open days were held in Tallaght Stadium in April, and Coillte has been in contact with local residents.
According to a project update in May, SDCC said the overall feedback from the public was “positive” with “a small number turning up to issue a complaint or protest to the project.”
The local authority acknowledged “misinform-ation” was bandied about in the public domain.
However, “genuine concerns” were raised by members of the public in relation to environmental impact and “main concerns” related to traffic and security.
According to a press release by SDCC, the project will provide “long-term economic benefits by increasing tourism, generating additional spend on local goods and services and creating new employment opportunities in South Dublin County.”
An environment impact assessment has been submitted to ABP on behalf of SDCC.
Fine Gael Councillor Brian Lawlor encourages people to “make a submission, objection or observation with ABP before September 25, so their views are taken on board.”
An SDCC spokesperson told The Echo: “The council can confirm that the revised estimate is €15 million. However, as an application has been made to An Bord Pleanála for the Dublin Mountains Visitors Centre project, it would not be appropriate for SDCC to make any further comment or updates pending the decision.”
Documents will also be available for inspection at ABP offices, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, and SDCC headquarters at County Hall, Tallaght. Members of the public should make their submissions on the planning application directly to An Bord Pleanála.
