Residents furious over road plan

RESIDENTS in a Northside housing estate are furious with Beaumont Hospital’s realignment of an internal road, which runs alongside the rear of their homes.

The road, which has been constructed inside the hospital grounds, runs along the back of Ardmore Drive, Artane.

It rises to within approximately two feet from the top of the garden walls and is only a few inches from the rear gardens.

Among the residents’ concerns is noise pollution, an invasion of privacy, loss of amenity, security fears and health issues arising from vehicular fumes.

Beaumont Hospital said that as part of the construction of the new psychiatric unit, it was necessary to realign an internal road for which the hospital was granted planning permission in 2011.

However, the building looks right down onto the residents’ back gardens.

Benny Usher, a member of Ardmore Montrose Residents’ Association (AMRA), is one of the affected residents.

“We believed that the road would just be an access road while they were building the psychiatric unit and would be closed when it was finished,

? he told Northside People.

“We were absolutely stunned a few months ago when we realised that it was going to become a fully operational road.

“There is going to be three bus routes using it and as Beaumont is open 24/7, it’s going to be very busy.

“We cannot believe that the hospital was granted planning permission to construct this road so close to our back gardens.

?

Another Ardmore resident, Angela Oliver, said the construction of the road was unacceptable.

“It’s a gross invasion of privacy and there are huge security issues,

? Ms Oliver stated.

“This will also devalue our homes. We just don’t understand how they got planning permission for it.

?

The residents have held two meetings with Beaumont Hospital and are hoping to have a third meeting as a matter of urgency.

A spokesman for Beaumont Hospital said the realignment of the road brings it closer to the perimeter wall of the Beaumont campus and as a result, to the neighbours close to that point.

“The hospital and the project manager for the building project in particular have engaged proactively with the residents involved to work together to limit the effects of the realigned road on their lives and properties,

? he told Northside People.

“In terms of running the building project, we are working with all of our suppliers to have them use the back entrance to the hospital campus at Trim Road so that there is no heavy traffic near the residents affected.

?

The spokesman said they have undertaken to assist in helping each of those directly affected resolve the specific issues that they have.

“The project manager is available at all times and we are fully committed to ensuring that any difficulties encountered are overcome,

? he added.

Artane Whitehall ward councillor Larry O’Toole (SF) believes the residents of Ardmore Drive will face serious disruption from the new road.

“The height of the road in comparison to the back gardens will certainly create a home security risk and also safety issues because of heavy traffic using a road along side, overlooking and in close proximity to the back gardens,

? he stated.

Dublin North Central TD Finian McGrath (Ind) said it was crazy to have a road one and a half metres above people’s back gardens and a few centimetres from their back walls.

“The local residents are very upset and when I witnessed it at first hand I was furious,

? he said.

Dublin North East TD Terence Flanagan (FG) said:

“The new development is causing a number of considerable issues for local residents and the hospital must ensure that all concerns are fully addressed.

?