Council intend to continue working on Strand Road cycle route

Dublin City Council intend to continue work on the Strand Road cycleway as planned despite a High Court challenge to stop it. 

The High Court yesterday granted a local resident and a councillor leave to challenge new cycle route in Sandymount.

Mr Justice Charles Meenan however said he would only deal with an application to put a stay on the work, which is due to start next week, with the council being represented in court.

The challenge is being brought by Peter Carvill of the Serpentine Avenue, Tritonville and Claremont Roads (STC) group, and local Independent Councillor Mannix Flynn.

In response to a request from Southside People, Dublin City Council said it will be continuing work on the cycle route as planned.

“No stay has been put on the works and Dublin City Council intend to continue working on this scheme to provide safe protected cycling along Strand Road,” a spokesperson said.

Installation of the route is set to be done in sections, and it is envisaged that the entire cycle route will be open to the public by the end of March.

Mr Carvill and Cllr Flynn claim that the council is incorrect in asserting the work required for this is exempt development.

Their counsel Neil Steen SC told the court yesterday that the council argued it was not covered by planning legislation and was in fact an exempt traffic calming measure.

The council had also argued the project did not require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) or an appropriate assessment (AA).

Mr Justice Meenan said he was satisfied there were substantial grounds to bring judicial review proceedings following Mr Steen’s application.

While some preliminary work on the road has started, the judge said there was no indication works were to start immediately.

He would only hear an application to stay the work providing the council was given 72 hours notification of the application.

The judicial review proceedings are due back in court in April.