Stadium open day to show the public proposed €19 m Hell Fire Club project

By Mary Dennehy

MEMBERS of the community are invited to attend two public open days on the proposed €19m Dublin Mountains Development at the Hell Fire Club and Massy’s Estate this April 6 and 7.

Hosted by South Dublin County Council and Coillte, the open days will be held in Tallaght Stadium from 8am to 8pm on both days, with individuals and interested groups and organisations encouraged to drop in to review the proposed plan, meet with the project team, ask questions and, importantly, give their feedback.

South Dublin County Council is proposing to develop a €19 million flagship tourism project in the Dublin Mountains and, after examining a number of locations, the Hellfire Club and Massy’s Estate were chosen – which, if passed, could attract up to 300,000 visitors a year.

The proposed development will include a visitor centre with exhibition space, panoramic café, toilets, changing facilities, walkers’ lounge and education centre.

The emerging proposal also includes a tree-top walk between the Hell Fire and Massy’s, car and coach park facilities, improved trail network with signage and minimal conservation works both at the Hell Fire Club and Massy’s Estate.

The council is currently working on its planning application for the development, which council management are hoping to have ready by June and which will be, according to the local authority, informed by the feedback received through the upcoming open days.

Colm Ward, Head of Enterprise with South Dublin County Council, told The Echo: “This is not the formal planning consultation stage, it’s a pre-planning opportunity for the members of the public to give us feedback.

“I think we have gotten a good handle on a lot of the issues raised to date and this is another way for members of the general public and interested groups to give us feedback on the concept.

“The council, Coillte and the project team will be on hand during the open days todiscuss and talk through the proposal and answer any questions. 

“It is a real opportunity for people to also give feedback and to help inform the council’s final proposal.”

The council is currently waiting on direction from An Bord Pleanála whether an envionmental impact assessment (EIA) is required.

However, The Echo understands that the council is of the opinion that an EIA is required for this project and has recommended to the board that an assessment be carried out.

In correspondence with the board, consultants for the council wrote: “It is SDCC’s objective – while seeking to carry out the proposed development – to avoid any significant negative effects on the site and receiving environment.

“However, it is considered prudent, and in the public interest, that the EIA Directive (and s.175 of the Act) be applied in this case to ensure that the proposed development takes account, properly and transparently, of the environmental sensitivities.”

The open days will be held in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday and Friday, April 6 and 7, from 8am to 8pm.

Separate opportunities to meet the project team are also available for representatives of local community groups by emailing econdev@sdublincoco.ie