Lis Na Dara Residents Committee 'concerned' over new link road plans for Dundalk

Following the announcement of the contract signing for the Mount Avenue Link Road Scheme last week, the Democrat was contacted by the Lis na Dara Residents Committee who raised concerns around the proposed project and the Council’s engagement with local residents.

The group said that they were pleased to hear that new lands will be opened up for housing development in the Mount Avenue area and recognised that “housing is a vital issue in our town and country, and we support any initiative that can provide more affordable and quality homes for people in need.”

However, they expressed concerns about the long-term implications of the project on the local community.
In a statement Resident’s Committee said:

“Lis Na Dara is a private enclosed housing estate, which was never taken in charge, with many young families and elderly people living here.

“We have a strong sense of community and identity, where we care for each other and our surrounding environment.

“We are worried that this project will change the character and quality of our neighbourhood effectively splitting the estate in two.”

They say that they are not concerned about the short-term disruption caused by the construction work, understand that this is a necessary part of any development project, and trust that the contractors will do their best to minimise the inconvenience and respect their privacy.

However they express misgivings around more long term implications and say a number of questions need to be answered, including:

• How will this project affect the wider Mount Avenue’s infrastructure and services?
• Will there be enough schools, shops, parks and public transport options for the increased population?
• How will this project affect traffic and road safety?
• Will there be adequate measures to ensure road safety for pedestrians and cyclists? How will this project affect the environment and heritage?
• Will the mature trees and planting that residents have maintained, invested in and enjoyed for many years at the entrance of the estate be removed?

The statement also criticised what the group said was a lack of engagement on part of the Council.

“Louth County Council has never fully engaged with us apart from one meeting a number of years ago on road safety with no follow up, and then ultimately challenged us in an oral hearing in 2020 on the compulsory purchase of our lands.

“The above are some of the questions that we hope will be addressed by all parties involved in this project.

“We urge them to consult with us, listen to our views and take them into account when making decisions. We are not opposed to progress, but we want it to be sustainable and respectful of our needs and rights as a community,” the statement concluded.

The Democrat contacted the Council for comment on the groups concerns and questions and received a reply stating that:

“The provision of local authority infrastructure is subject to national planning legislation. Under this process there are required periods for consultation with the public and for the public to make submissions. The impacts of the projects such as road safety , traffic generation, heritage are assessed, and a report is brought to the elected members of the Council for a decision.

“This process was completed for Mount Ave Road scheme in 2007. As the lands were not all in the ownership of the council a Compulsory Purchase process was commenced to acquire the lands.

“This is also governed by national legislation and there is a required consultation process, and a member of the public can submit their objections to Bord Pleanala who make a final determination. Bord Pleanala granted the CPO for Mount Ave in 2020. All consents are therefore in place.

“As part of the works a new signalized junction is to be constructed at the entrance to Lis na Dara and the Carrick road.

“A number of trees will be removed as part of the enactment of the planning consent including a number at the entrance to Lis na Dara. These will be replaced as part of the project with indigenous species.

“The Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027 provides a framework for the growth and development of the County during its lifetime with an underlying and cross cutting theme promoting the creation of sustainable, healthy communities where people can access jobs, housing, and services, and enjoy a high quality of life.

“This is available online at www.louthcoco.ie. and the framework for development of the Mount Avenue area can be viewed.”