Presbyterian Church ‘alarmed’ at cycle scheme on Howth Road

The Howth and Malahide Presbyterian Church is calling on Fingal County Council to abandon plans to develop a cycle lane directly outside of its premises on the Howth Road.

The local authority plans on introducing the Baldoyle-Malahide Protected Cycle Scheme in the coming months.

The church says that due to the lack of a carpark in the “immediate area, it is absolutely vital that street parking remains available at all times from the church building all the way to Corr Bridge.”

In a letter sent to chief executive of the council AnnMarie Farrelly, Reverend Alastair J Dunlop said that the church was “alarmed” at the proposal and that if the cycle lane proceeds as planned, it would “block accessibility to worship for 99% of the congregation.”

Reverend Dunlop said that “our church family, and indeed the community we serve, is multi-generational, ranging from babies and toddlers, to the elderly and infirm.

“People travel from a wide area to avail of our church services which have been accessible in this location since 1900.

“The various activities and ministries of our local church provide an essential service to the community around us,” he said.

Dunlop then went on to list the numerous events that are held at the church that are “integral to our community life.”

“Weekly worship, weddings, funerals, concerts, youth and children’s clubs, and many other meetings,” he says.

“In addition to our own activities there are also various groups that rent our premises during the week.

“All of this makes the proposed new development of the cycle lane a most alarming matter.”

The Reverend finishes the letter saying that the church trusts “due consideration will be given to this concern and looks forward to receiving assurances that street parking from 103 Howth Rd to Corr Bridge will remain available to worshippers and other users of our premises.

In response, Farrelly said that the scheme is “intended to improve road safety and create a safe environment for vulnerable road users and children.

“The desired aim of this is to encourage active travel i.e. walking and cycling for short journeys and avail of public transport for multi modal travel for medium length journeys.”

Farrelly says that the scheme will include footpath and road repair works, line markings, the replacement of existing gullies with “cycle friendly gullies” and installation of bollards on existing cycle lanes.

“This would include installation of bollards on the existing cycle lane infrastructure on Howth Road from Sutton Cross to Howth village to further protect cyclists,” she says.

Farrelly says in her response that worshippers and people who attend the church for events should not currently be parking along the Howth Road regardless due to the presence of an old, but existing cycle lane.

“With regards on-street parking, there is no designated public parking spaces along Howth Road.

“An existing cycle lane runs along both sides of Howth Road.

“It should be noted that parking is not permitted on the existing cycle lanes or public footpaths.

“The current proposals maintain this position,” she says.

“For all events planned at the church either at the weekend or weekday, Fingal County Council encourages the users to create specific mobility or traffic management plans.”