Swords residents call for protection of local ‘greenbelt’

Local Swords residents groups are calling on Fingal County Council to protect and retain a “greenbelt” which runs between neighbouring areas.

Save Rivervalley, Ridgewood and Knocksedan Greenbelt (SRRKG) has been campaigning for over 25 years to protect the green site and is urging all local councillors to reject a proposal calling for the land to be rezoned.

Fianna Fail councillor Brigid Manton has tabled a motion calling for the rezoning of the lands in order to make way for housing.

“If this motion is approved by Fingal councillors, we will lose a precious resource forever,” the groups says.

According to the SRRKG, rezoning of the land would “destroy a vital greenbelt in the middle of a climate change crisis, with the loss of biodiversity and increased pollution.”

The group has said rezoning would lead to unsustainable pressure on existing overstretched vital services, such as schools, healthcare, transport, and amenities, and would merge four large estates “into one concrete urban sprawl.”

The group fears that if the lands were to be rezoned, Rivervalley, Ridgewood and Knocksedan would “cease to exist as distinct communities,” it says.

The campaign group also said that due to the large amount of residential zoned land in Swords, it “does not make sense” to rezone the greenbelt.

To date, the group has said, over 1,500 residents have signed a petition calling for the greenbelt’s protection, and over 300 submissions were made during the current 2023-2029 Draft Development Plan consultation process asking for the greenbelt to be protected.

It says that only two submissions called for the greenbelt to be rezoned.

Chief executive of the local authority also supports the greenbelt’s protection, as claimed in the in the Fingal Development Plan 2017-2023.

“Fingal County Council Planners and Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly has said there is a sufficient amount of residential (RA) land in Swords to cope with demand,” the group said.

“In addition, the they have said the greenbelt should be protected as a safeguard against climate change, to prevent ad-hoc planning and help build sustainable communities.”

SRRKG says the green plays a “key role” in protecting the ecology and biodiversity of Ward River Park.

The rezoning would “destroy biodiversity and this precious resource and will lead to increased pollution and traffic congestion,” the group says.

“For all the above reasons (and more), retaining and protecting this greenbelt will be highly important for the health and well-being of the people living in the community, especially our children.

“We are urging all of Fingal’s Cllrs to reject submission FIN-C453-259, which calls for the land to be rezoned.

“Instead, please vote to provide a clean, healthy and resilient community for now and generations to come,” the group said.