Protest march against new 3G pitch plans

THERE was a strong turn-out at a protest march against plans for the development of a new multi-sport, enclosed 3G pitch in Knocklyon last week.

Organised by a group of local residents under the banner of Save Knocklyon Park, the protest saw local residents and politicians march around Knocklyon Park – the proposed location for the contentious pitch.

They also unveiled a plaque denoting a view in the park, that is a protected view on South Dublin County Council’s Local Development Plan, as the ‘Dublin Mountain View Walk’.

As previously reported in The Echo, South Dublin County Council’s proposal consists of the development of a 3G enclosed pitch in the park, in place of an existing grass pitch.

The existing pitch is an adult-sized pitch but is currently subdivided into three juvenile pitches by Ballyboden St Enda’s GAA Club, who use it on a daily basis for training and matches.

The chairman of St Enda’s, Donagh O’Farrell, previously told The Echo that if the new pitch went ahead, it would put a strain on the club’s capacity and its juvenile section couldn’t continue to operate it the way it does at present.

The 3G enclosed pitch is proposed to be a pay-to-play facility and, owing to it being an all-weather pitch with synthetic grass, it would be unsuitable for the GAA club to continue using it.

The primary concerns raised by Save Knocklyon Park – which were at the forefront of last weekend’s march – are biodiversity and environmental.

The plans for the pitch include floodlights, which the group said would be disruptive to existing wildlife in the park such as bats and bees.

Save Knocklyon Park also expressed concerns about the use of synthetic grass and the potential environmental damage it could cause in the park.

The plans are currently at the Part 8 public consultation stage, which contains documents relating to the council’s plans for the development.

This includes an Environmental Impact Assessment, which the local authority said found “that there is no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development.”

In a leaflet recently circulated by Save Knocklyon Park, a spokesperson for the group wrote: “A well-used family park, full of wildlife, is not the right area for a development of this size and nature.

“This will be one of the biggest 3G pitches ever proposed in Europe despite the Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Report classifying this compound as ‘of small scale’ and in keeping with the ‘urban’ landscape – despite the park being surrounded by trees and directly connected to the Dublin mountains.”

Submissions on the planned project can be made at consult.sdublincoco.ie until June 9, or by post to Senior Executive Officer, Environment Water and Climate Change, South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24 YNN5, up to 5pm on June 9.