Opposition to local park plan intensifies

A CAMPAIGN group has delivered a petition to Fingal County Council in an attempt to overturn a decision to construct a new amenity in one of the Northside’s best-known parks. 

On July 11 the council granted planning permission for a Forest Adventure Area and Reinforced Multi-Use Grass Area in Malahide Demesne.

However, the plan has been mired in controversy with a large number of local residents opposed to it.

On August 10, Noel Mahon, Avril McDermott and Carmel Mahon, representing the Save Malahide Castle Woodland group, presented a petition comprising 3,284 signatures and 962 signed postcards to the council. 

The petition is calling on the council’s chief executive Paul Reid to overturn the decision to extend the Bridgefield carpark in Malahide Castle Demesne and build a woodland adventure centre in the “last significant expanse” of natural woodland in the area.

After presenting the petition and postcards to the council, Noel Mahon said that by “privatising” the woodland, he believed the council was commercialising large swathes of what is meant to be a public park. 

“As local awareness grows, so does opposition to these ill-considered proposals,” said Mr Mahon.

“Another huge concern locally is the damage this tree top adventure centre will do to the natural woodland, and its irreversible effect on the abundant and wide range of wildlife living there, not to mention the effect the influx of visitors will have on the already congested traffic experienced in Malahide Village. 

“We feel that these type of developments would be better suited to the parks in Newbridge House or Ardgillan, locations with larger areas of woodland and away from a busy and densely populated urban centre.”

Mr Mahon added: “At the July meeting, several councillors queried as to why those locations weren’t considered.” 

In a statement, Fingal County Council said that following its decision on July 11 to grant planning permission for the facility, it has moved to the next phase of the project. 

“This involves preparing documentation seeking expressions of interest for the Forest Adventure Area and the establishment of a procurement process for the Reinforced Multi-Use Grass Area,” the council said. 

“Concerns raised during the public consultation process by councillors and citizens have been noted by the council and will be reflected in the conditions under which the next phase of the project will be conducted. 

“The council and its staff currently look after 70,000 trees and 1,000 acres of woodland and urban forestry and have tremendous expertise in the management of woodland areas.”

The council pointed out that Malahide Castle and Demesne is a flagship tourism destination within Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ campaign for the Dublin area.

“This project will enhance its attraction to visitors from Ireland and abroad as well as the citizens of Fingal,” it added. 

“Income generated from this project will be ring-fenced and used to fund woodland management and woodland improvements work in the park which holds the internationally recognised Green Flag awarded for best practice in the management of parks and green spaces.”

The Forest Adventure area will allow visitors to navigate various circuits through the treetops of Malahide Demense using rope bridges, ziplines and cargo nets.

The plan will require sports pitches in the demesne needing to be reconfigured. 

However, the council is insisting that the project will not add any additional restrictions to the demesne, and that the realigned pitches will be upgraded to improve nearby sporting facilities.