Councillors say lack of planting at Clonsilla is ‘unacceptable’

Councillors in Clonsilla have voiced their frustration about the lack of progress on a planting plan for the southern boundary of the Lidl store on the Clonsilla Link Road.

An Bord Pleanla granted permission for the shop in 2018 on the condition that a planting plan would be introduced to help with the greening of the site.

However, Lidl has yet to plant any shrubbery or flowers at the store’s southern boundary, five years after receiving planning permission.

“Lidl here in Clonsilla has been in operation for several years, yet we still await the roll out of an appropriate planting plan on their southern boundary,” Independent councillor Tania Doyle said.

“I do not wish to obliquely criticise the operation, but it is universally accepted that the southern boundary is of a particularly hard visual aspect.

“To mitigate the hard aspect, a planting plan was submitted but never instituted, this despite a specific condition imposed by An Bord Pleanála within its Decision in 2018.

“At this juncture we must be cognisant that a mature tree line of long standing was removed to facilitate what is known as “frontage” for the store on its southern boundary.”

Fingal County Council had been in contact with Lidl about the introduction of tree pits but this is no longer “feasible” due to existing water and power lines.

“After four years, we have been left four planting boxes with inappropriate plants in them and are being used for rubbish dumping,” Doyle said.

Sinn Fein councillor Natalie Treacy said that residents have been in contact with councillors about the issue.

“It really comes down to enforcement,” she said.

“The permission is granted with conditions, but when the development is done, they get off scot-free.

“We have lost a lot of shrubbery and trees in Clonsilla for this development to take place and I think it’s unacceptable.”

At a recent Local Area Committee meeting, Doyle and Labour councillor John Walsh tabled motions asking the council for updates on the matter.

Gemma Carr from the council’s Parks Department said that the local authority has “been back and forward with Lidl and we have told them what they have provided is not acceptable.

“We in Parks have been negotiating with Lidl but at times they have stopped talking to us and we are now working with the Enforcement Department and are dependent on them.”

Doyle said that Lidl’s reluctance to work with the council is “quite frankly find incredulous and unprecedented.

“While Lidl provide a retail service and provide employment, yet again we find ourselves discussing the operation here in Clonsilla for all the wrong reasons.

“Between issues with “out of hours” deliveries which were in contravention of the legal Grant of Permission, the lack of bins, again in contravention of the legal Grant of Permission, the inadequate planting which has lead to bare empty wooden flower boxes on the Southern Boundary, Lidl on a macro level has been a disappointment not only to me but to a number of communities adjacent and their residents and I would be now calling on Lidl Ireland to step up for once and for all.”

In a statement, Lidl Ireland said: “Lidl Ireland have been liaising with Fingal County Council to discuss proposals for the installation of trees at Lidl Clonsilla.

“Following a positive outcome, we aim to begin installing once permitted to do so by the council. We look forward to adding this addition to our Clonsilla store and the local community”.