I have proposed three changes at the final stage of the County Development Plan, to improve protections for wildlife corridors and reverse a bad planning decision in Kilternan. All three already have the support of the council’s Planning team and I’m hopeful that all three will have the support of the majority of councillors.
Next week, councillors will have our last chance to make changes to the County Development Plan before it comes into effect in April 2022 for the next 6 years. At this stage, we can only make changes to the proposed amendments that were made at the last stage in October.
These are the amendments I have put in:
| Amendment # | Originally proposed by | Original amendment | My proposed change | Council management recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130 | Council management | Delete the following line from the plan: “It is envisaged that the forthcoming wildlife corridors will also be depicted in Supplementary Map B1” | Instead of deleting the line, replace with – “The wildlife corridors are depicted in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Biodiversity Plan 2021-2025.” | Slight wording change to: “The wildlife corridors will be depicted in the forthcoming Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025.” I will accept the wording change. |
| 387 | Council management | Amend Supplementary Map B2 (Appendix 10) to replace the following text at the end of Section 10.1.1 ‘Policy GIB23: County-wide Ecological Network’ (page 297): Delete this text: “Note: The map will be updated at amendment stage with data from the forthcoming wildlife corridor plan” Insert this text: This map is indicative only and does not purport to show all occurrences of ecologically sensitives sites. Locally Important Biodiversity Sites (LIBS) do not have a legal status.” | Replace the deleted text with: “Wildlife corridors are depicted in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Biodiversity Plan 2021-2025″ | Slight wording change to: “Note: The wildlife corridors will be depicted in the forthcoming Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025.” I will accept the wording change. |
| M911 | Fianna Fáil & Fine Gael councillors (This amendment was not on the meeting agenda and was proposed on the night. It was strongly opposed by council officials) | Insert a Strategic Land Reserve at lands in Kilternan (see map). | To remove amendment M911 on Map 9 (Strategic Land Reserve on Enniskerry Road next to Jamestown Farm) Planning reason – there is no planning reason to make this piece of land a Strategic Land Reserve. Many submissions have raised valid reasons to remove this amendment as have the Executive. | Council management fully support the removal of the Strategic Land Reserve at this location |
The meetings to decide on these will take place from 5pm-10pm on Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th and Friday 11th. Here is the full agenda and here is where you can tune in to watch.
I have made the DLR Biodiversity Action Plan 2021-2025 available here. The Wildlife Corridors map is depicted on page 39. This still needs to be ratified at the next County Council meeting (14th March) and I expect it to be.
These are critical decisions for planning and wildlife corridors protection in our area. If you have any questions or concerns about these amendments or would like to know more, please let me know.
