RESIDENTS in Terenure are locked in a dispute with the local college over the construction of a fence near the rugby club which they claim will cut off access to a local park.
Dublin City Council approved a ‘certificate of exemption’ concerning the construction of the 1.2m high fence with an access gate six days after it was submitted by Terenure College RFC on September 23, 2016.
Dublin City Council said the application was granted the certificate of exemption that would allow the fence to be constructed without a requirement for planning permission.
Terenure College, which is under the management of the Carmelite Order, had previously sought to erect a 2.2m high fence but this was rejected at the time by An Bord Pleanála as it would run against “the interests of a visual and residential amenity”.
“The Carmelites refused point blank to come to the public meetings and explain themselves and have absolutely refused to discuss why they want the fence,” claimed Brendan Heneghan, a local resident in the Terenure area.
Mr Heneghan added: “Nobody in the local area was told about the application – it’s a controversial move as people just do not want the fence.”
The Association of Residents of Terenure (ART) said many local residents enjoyed the amenity of the open space adjacent to the rugby club known as Lakelands.
“This area is a hugely valuable local resource consisting of a quiet, wooded and lake-filled area replete with wildlife and biological diversity,” the association stated.
The association added that the fence would “block the only existing public route of access to Lakelands”.
“Every decision by the Planning Department of Dublin City Council should be open and transparent,” said local Green Party councillor Patrick Costello.
“If a fence is being built that will cut off a right-of-way that is habitually walked, then the best way forward is for open dialogue between all sides. The issues need to be talked through.”
Cllr Costello added: “A certificate of exemption is covered by Section 5 of the Planning Act and unlike planning permission, it does not come with a public notice so it is harder for members of the public to make an observation.”
Southside People contacted Dublin City Council and the Order of the Carmelites at Terenure College, but both were unavailable to comment.
REPORT: Andrew Ralph