Associations seek new flood defence plan

Dublin People 10 Dec 2011

BITTER FIGHT: Pictured (from l-r) is Deirdre Tobin, Gus O’Hara and Ronan Morris of the Clontarf Residents’ and Business Associations with the thousands of submissions before they delivered them to the city manager.

TWO Northside groups have vowed to work with Dublin
City Council to come up with a suitable flood defence scheme for their area.

Clontarf Residents’ Association and Clontarf Business
Association were responding to Dublin city councillors’ decision to reject the
controversial flood defence plan for the Clontarf promenade.

Labour, Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Independents and Sinn
Fein all voted to scrap the plan that brought thousands of Dubliners to protest
on the streets of Clontarf.

Deirdre Tobin and Gus O’Hara, joint chairpersons of
Clontarf Residents’ Association and Clontarf Business Association respectively,
were delighted with the result following a hard fought three-month campaign.

In a joint statement afterwards both associations
said: “The decisive rejection of the plan vindicates the strong opposition
from both associations to the plan.

“Common sense has prevailed and we thank the city
councillors, in particular, the five local councillors in the area for their
support throughout this three month campaign.

“Democracy has won the day and the plan’s rejection is
a victory for the thousands of people throughout Dublin who stood up and said
an emphatic

‘NO’ to the project.

The associations said the plan was not just about the
people of Clontarf, but the people of Dublin who have enjoyed using this
wonderful amenity for many years.

“We will ensure that this much-appreciated stretch of
promenade will be there for the enjoyment of our children and grandchildren,

?
they said.

“We look forward to working with the city manager and
his team in a constructive, positive manner of engagement that will ensure a
flood defence scheme that properly integrates the natural environment for
everyone to enjoy.

Dublin City Manager John Tierney said officials would
now meet with the residents’ and business associations to discuss a new plan.

Clontarf ward councillor Jane Horgan Jones (Lab)
welcomed the decision.

“Now we have a chance to go back to the drawing board
and come up with a plan for flood defences of which we can all be proud,

? she
said.