Plans to sell 5,000 acres in the Glenasmole Valley scrapped

Plans to sell 5,000 acres at the Glenasmole Valley have been scrapped.

According to party leader Eamon Ryan TD the land will now be added to Wicklow National Park.

The 4,900 acres, most of which lie within a special area of conservation and a special protection area, are surrounded by 200,000 hectares of the Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland’s largest national park.

The announcement comes less than a week after the Green Party presented a petition to the Government signed by 20,000 people calling for the lands to be retained in public ownership.

Speaking following the announcement, Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said: “This really is great news. Retaining this land is a significant national as well as local development, which has widespread public support.

“This was a once in a lifetime chance to protect a large area of the Dublin Mountains for the hundreds of thousands of walkers and nature lovers who value the uplands as one of the great things about our capital city, and we’re glad that sense has prevailed.

“Nothing will change immediately with respect to the site, in terms of land access etc, but we now have certainty, and a real opportunity to develop this area into one of the finest attractions in the country.

“By developing the Dublin Uplands as a tourist destination, in conjunction with the extension of the Dodder Greenway running from the source of the river to the sea, this really is a unique opportunity.

“We commend every one of the 21,000 people who signed our petition calling for the Government to act to retain this land.

“This was people power in action – this deal wasn’t just going to happen by itself. It is a very good result for the country.”

Pick up tomorrow’s Echo for more on this developing story.