Vision plan ‘will make village a better place’

A VISION Plan for a Local Area Plan for Clondalkin was recently published by a councillor who said the area has been “the victim of bad planning”.

The document was compiled after South Dublin County Council agreed to initiate a Local Area Plan for Clondalkin as part of the new County Development Plan.

Created by the Clondalkin Vision Alliance, of which Independent councillor Francis Timmons is chairman, it looks at the future development of the Clondalkin area.

Explaining the rationale behind the Vision Plan, Cllr Timmons said: “I got a few people together to work on a vision document for Clondalkin.

“We hope this vision document will inform the Local Area Plan. Clondalkin has, like other areas, been the victim of bad planning.

“The Vision document sets out many objectives that will enhance the village and surrounds and make it a better place to live, work and visit.”

Among the objectives contained in the plan is an increased focus on tourism in the area, such as implementing a ‘Make It Home to Clondalkin for Christmas’ campaign, aimed at people from the area who are living abroad.

The protection of heritage buildings, such as the Fairview Oil Mills and the old RIC Barracks, and exploring the possibility of having an artist-in-residence at the Fairview Oil Mills, is included.

In terms of housing, the Vision Plan sets out a focus on step-down accommodation for older people, and new design criteria for apartments in the area.

Environment, water and climate change objectives in the plan include clean-up and maintenance of the banks of the River Camac and the old mill ponds, and for sluice gates to be cleaned and maintained.

An objective focused on developing job opportunities in the locality is also a feature of the Vision Plan.

The objective calls for the council to contact the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation and other relevant National and EU departments to source funding and support for job creation in the Clondalkin area, and to support job opportunities.

According to the document: “A Vision Plan for the village area will underpin its character and continue its status in the larger Clondalkin district and the wider South County region.

“Increasing the prosperity of Clondalkin village will have a beneficial effect on the entire district of Clondalkin village, its outskirts and North Clondalkin.”