Gabija Gataveckaite
A LOCAL environmental group has vowed to disband if a controversial apartment development gets the go ahead on the Southside.
The Tallaght Litter Mugs was formed in 2015 as “a group of like-minded volunteers” that agreed to adopt and care for their local Sean Walsh Park.
Over a number of years, the appearance of the park had deteriorated due to a build up of rubbish caused by casual littering and deliberate dumping.
At the outset their aims were to remove the rubbish in a bid to achieve Green Flag status to amrk the 30th anniversary of the park in 2019.
This goal was actually achieved in October of this year when the coveted Green Flag was raised in the park, a first for Tallaght.
However, the Tallaght Litter Mugs are now objecting to the proposed development of 81 apartments on a site in the park beside Tallaght Stadium.
South Dublin County Council and registered charity, Clúid Housing, have proposed the development of 81 units consisting of 63 one-bedroom apartments and 18 two-bedroom apartments under the Older Persons social housing scheme.
But the Tallaght Litter Mugs have raised objections to the development, claiming that there are more suitable sites for the development.
Litter Mugs volunteer John Kiberd said: “The park is really attractive and there is a lot going for it.”
The group has set up an online petition as part of their campaign of opposition, which at time of going to print, had 2,160 signatures on it. The petition states that the proposal ‘threatens’ the park as the South Dublin County Council Depot, urban farm and community garden will be ‘lost’, which will make it hard for the park to maintain its Green Flag status.
The group also maintains that the development is unsuitable for the park as it is prone to flooding. According to Mr Kiberd, the park was “heavily” flooded in 2011. The group also claims that the four-storey development would see floodlights from the Tallaght stadium shine into local residents’ homes.
“Why would anyone put 81 units for older people without any other infrastructure beside a busy road, when their other neighbours are a halting site and a busy stadium,” said Mr Kiberd. “By design, they will put residents into that environment – it beggar’s belief.”
James Harold, a spokesperson for Clúid said: “The site is currently a depot operated by South Dublin County Council for Sean Walsh Park. The council deemed the site suitable for housing and ran an Expression of Interest for an approved housing body (AHB) to develop the site and Clúid Housing was the chosen AHB.
“The site was identified due to its close proximity to Tallaght Hospital, public transport and amenities in Tallaght Square.”
He added: “It is our policy not to discuss objections to proposed developments.”
The development at Sean Walsh Park is part of wider project by Clúid, which will see the development of 2,500 units across the country. The project will conclude in 2020.
Mr Harold believes that the developments in Sean Walsh Park are crucial in tackling the current housing crisis.
“Clúid is committed to delivering 2,500 new homes over the course of our current three-year business plan,” he explained. “We are working across the country to deliver much needed social housing and by next year will own or manage a total of 7,000 housing units.
However, Mr Kiberd has insisted that the Litter Mugs group will disband if the development goes ahead.
“If the council doesn’t have enough regard for the park to keep it, I would really be a mug if I kept on the environmental work. If they have no regard for it, why should I?” he
said.
“Absolutely there is a housing crisis in Dublin and it is a disgrace that this Government of seven years has done little about it. There are other and better sites that would suit these apartments for older people,” he added.
The group spent three years cleaning up the park, which was awarded its Green Flag just last month. Tallaght Litter Mugs is now planning to hold a public meeting on Monday, November 26 in the Plaza Hotel in Tallaght, as part of the ‘Save Sean Walsh Park’ campaign.
In an email statement to Southside People, the Director of Housing, Social and Community Development, Colm Ward, stated that: “The proposal for the development of older persons' homes at a location between Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght Stadium and Whitestown Way is currently subject of a Part 8 Public Consultation process.
“A report to the December council meeting addressing matters raised during the consultation period will be presented for consideration. It is not appropriate to comment further until then,” Mr Ward added.
According to an architectural design statement by Seán Harrington Architects, released in August of this year, the site is “a large brownfield site situated at the north-western corner of Seán Walsh Park in Tallaght.
“The site is currently used as an operations depot by South Dublin County Council Parks Department.
“South Dublin County Council will make the site available for development following an imminent consolidation of their depot facilities.”