Proposed Road Bridge, Castletown Gates, Celbridge

The Raven.

Here is my synopsis of An Bord Pleanála’s decision to REFUSE permission for the proposed development. The original document will be online after the weekend.

1. The proposed development would adversely affect the character and settings of Castletown House and Donaghcumper House, both Protected Structures of architectural significance, and their 18th century designed landscapes, in close proximity to the historic Main Street of Celbridge.

2. The proposed heavily trafficked road junction at Castletown Gates would create a major intrusion into the streetscape, which would fail to respect the historic relationship of the town to Castletown House and adversely affect the setting of a number of Protected Structures in this sensitive urban environment. It would conflict with the Local Area Plan and seriously injure the architectural heritage of the town.

3. The proposed development would result in excessive encroachment into the River Liffey lands which are significant in terms of landscape character and of high amenity, according to the County Development Plan.

4. The Board is not satisfied that adequate ecological surveying has been done and the development could have a significant adverse impact on the ecology of the site, which includes bats and otters which are protected species.

I would like to thank everyone for their support in preventing this horrendous development. Together we have saved the historic town of Celbridge from wanton architectural and environmental vandalism. This is well and truly a great day for Celbridge.

I do not accept that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBCdlBrgEmE
Strange days indeed
most peculiar
Mama.

Election week is a most peculiar time indeed.
" We as Labour Public Representatives will now seek to have the state acquire Donagcumper Demesne for the enjoyment of the Public...."
Emmet Stagg and company should have been doing this all along not just now when votes are needed.

The Raven.

An Bord Pleanala information is now online: Inspector's Report, Order and Direction.

http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/236613.htm

w@ll3gurl

It's fantastic news!! I didn't stop smiling all day Friday, and took a walk up to Castletown to enjoy the view over the weekend!! Just great to look down at the river near the C of I and think that it's not going to be destroyed. Even walking up the main street & all the Georgian buildings that will be free from overlooking inappropriate architecture & design. (ie, 8 storey modern buildings!)

Can I just ask, where did that labour quote come from? I can't seem to view that you tube clip on phone. Unbelievable the change of tack now they want votes!! Thx for pointing it out


Thanks Raven for the link to decision info

I do not accept that wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBCdlBrgEmE
Strange days indeed
most peculiar
Mama.

Election week is a most peculiar time indeed.
" We as Labour Public Representatives will now seek to have the state acquire Donagcumper Demesne for the enjoyment of the Public...."
Emmet Stagg and company should have been doing this all along not just now when votes are needed.

I do not accept that

The quote comes from a letter delivered to all residents of Castletown.
There is an edited version of the letter on Emmet Staggs website. This quote " We as Labour Public Representatives will now seek to have the state acquire Donagcumper Demesne for the enjoyment of the Public...." has been edited out . You can read the edited letter here. http://www.labour.ie/emmetstagg/news/12887352401677351.html

Castletown

It should be noted that while it would be wonderful if the labour party did work towards having the state acquire Donaghcumper, Castletown was actually acquired by the state as a result of the Castletown Foundation requesting that the state take ownership. The Castletown foundation at the time no longer had the monies to maintain the house. So they took the initive to lobby the minister. It this was not a labour initive as suggested in the Labour leaflet drop and on their website.

The Raven.

To be fair, Labour TD Michael D. Higgins was Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht January 1993 –1997. Castletown was transferred to state care on 1 January 1994. Of course the Castletown Foundation would have lobbied him at the time, but credit where credit is due.

Castletown

It would be a great legacy to the people of Celbridge if Stagg could manage to get the state to acquire the Donaghcumper lands to be developed into a national park in tandem with Castletown. With Emmet being a local politician perhaps he will pursue this for the people of Celbridge and indeed in the national interest if elected.

EvilMonkey

Castletown wrote: »

It would be a great legacy to the people of Celbridge if Stagg could manage to get the state to acquire the Donaghcumper lands to be developed into a national park in tandem with Castletown. With Emmet being a local politician perhaps he will pursue this for the people of Celbridge and indeed in the national interest if elected.

Why should the state do that? You already have Castletown. I hope Stagg will concern himself with national issues not local issues.

Castletown

Donaghcumper and Castletown have the potential to become a major tourist asset for the county and for Ireland, and yes Emmet should pursue this in the national interest, and for job creation in the tourist sector. Being from the area just might give him an added interest to pursue the matter.

I do not accept that

It looks like Kildare county Council are attempting a u-turn at the request of Devondale.

"Kildare County Council officials have indicated they will acceed to requests by Devondale, owner of the historic demesne lands, and to overturn protections introduced by Councillors in December following over 4000 submissions by members of the public."

"This conflicts with the recent Bord Pleanála decision which overturned the Council's permission for a development there."

Seems the County Manager is determined to facilitate Devondale.


Why?

w@ll3gurl

Is that from a newspaper article? Anyone have any more info, particularly which councillor to have assassinated - j/k
Seriously though, what does it take to get it through their thick minds that this is an inappropriate place for development of that type.

Castletown

As you are aware the County Development Plan is being put together at the moment. As part of this process local councillors submitted motions which requested greater protection for the Donaghcumper Lands .This was in line with the 4000 submissions from local people on this matter. These motions were debated, voted and agreed upon by the councillors in the Council Chambers. The necessary amendments were made to the draft plan.

The Draft amended Plan went back out on public display. RPS on behalf of the Developer objected to the amendments as they gave greater protection to Donaghcumper. On receiving the Developer's submission the county officials and the manger proposed to overturn the amendments that had been agreed. To do this there will have to be a final vote on this in a few weeks.

Unless the councillors vote against their original motions to protect Donaghcumper the amendments can't be over turned. So lets hope that the councillors won't reverse their decision. The power rest with them.

Shame on the Officials for reacting to a developer's submission instead of listening to the voice of the 4000 local submissions. Shame also on the officials for completely ignoring the recent decision of an Bord Pleanala. Is our County Development Plan to be a developer led plan??? I had hoped that those days were gone!

w@ll3gurl

Here is an article from todays Irish Times about the county managers proposal to overturn the protection. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0329/1224293297913.html

Does anyone know of anything that can be done, similar to the petition that over 4000 people signed? (writing to county mgr, councillors?)

So angry, this country never learns from its mistakes. :mad:

The Raven.

w@ll3gurl wrote: »

Here is an article from todays Irish Times about the county managers proposal to overturn the protection. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0329/1224293297913.html

Does anyone know of anything that can be done, similar to the petition that over 4000 people signed? (writing to county mgr, councillors?)

So angry, this country never learns from its mistakes. :mad:

As far as I know there is no new petition similar to what has already been signed by over 4000 people and the original petitions still stand. These people have not changed their minds. It would seem that it is the County Manager who is trying to overturn the protection at the request of the developer. It is now up to the elected councillors to stand by their original decision to protect Donaghcumper.

The Raven.

I do not accept that wrote: »

It looks like Kildare county Council are attempting a u-turn at the request of Devondale.

"Kildare County Council officials have indicated they will acceed to requests by Devondale, owner of the historic demesne lands, and to overturn protections introduced by Councillors in December following over 4000 submissions by members of the public."

"This conflicts with the recent Bord Pleanála decision which overturned the Council's permission for a development there."

Seems the County Manager is determined to facilitate Devondale.


Why?

Good question! It is hard to fathom why, especially after all the valid reasons given by An Bord Pleanala for their refusal to grant the two Devondale planning applications, and the sheer volume of informed objections, that the County Manager now wishes to pander to the demands of ONE developer.

The Raven.

The following is a very well written letter in today's Irish Times.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/letters/2011/0401/1224293541584.html

The Irish Times - Friday, April 1, 2011

Fears for Castletown's natural setting

Madam, – The recent decisions of An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the largescale developments at the Donaghcumper Estate, Celbridge, Co Kildare are of great significance for the protection of the open and natural quality of the Liffey Valley and for the protection of the setting of Castletown, the greatest and one of the earliest of the Irish country houses of the 18th century.

The decision of the planning board has also significance for our tourist industry. The protection of the lands at Donaghcumper and the adjoining estates along the Liffey Valley is not merely a matter of significance for the local community, it is of national importance and a significant element in what we can offer to the world of travel and of cultural development.

Given these factors, it is alarming that the administration in Co Kildare led by the county manager now wants the members of the county council itself to remove the provisions of the new draft Development Plan which should help to protect the landscape at Donaghcumper and the setting of Castletown, and so go back on an earlier decision of the council in December 2010 to retain these protections. It would seem that the interests of property development are being given pride of place rather than the long-term cultural and social concerns. It would appear that the tourist interests of the region and the country are again being jeopardised.

Permission had been sought for a large-scale housing development on the open lands across the Liffey from Castletown House and also to develop the infrastructure to create a new town centre for Celbridge all on the lands at Donaghcumper. Both propositions were rejected by An Bord Pleanála for stated reasons.

The planning applications had been opposed by hundreds of local people, by conservationists and wildlife groups, by the Castletown Foundation and by the Office of Public Works. The OPW now administers Castletown for the nation. It would be a sad situation if KCC were to go against the well-established grounds on which these developments were rejected, reasons that were fully examined by the board in its decisions. It is our duty to protect great natural beauty and built heritage for our own people and for visitors from abroad.

In 1994 the Castletown Foundation gave the great house and the small portion of the landholding in its ownership to the Irish State as represented by the OPW. The State subsequently took steps to acquire more of the lands at Castletown, especially those facing the river Liffey. The greater part of the historic Castletown estate is, however, still in the hands of developers. There is the risk that attempts will be made to secure planning permission on what is the remaining parkland of Castletown. Already in the part owned by the OPW considerable advances have been made in restoring drives and pathways for the public benefit.

It is essential that for the future, the open and rural quality of the Castletown estate be preserved in the public interest. The battle at Castletown is not merely about keeping the lands at Donaghcumper open and free of development. It also involves protecting and maintaining the open lands, which are the natural setting of Castletown House. –

Yours, etc,
Prof KEVIN B NOWLAN, Chairman, Castletown Foundation, Castletown House, Co Kildare.

As Professor Nowlan has stated, it is indeed 'alarming' that KCC administration, led by the County Manager, is now suggesting that the county council itself remove the provisions already voted on by the elected councillors to protect Donaghcumper.

The Raven.

Good news: The Kildare County councillors voted unanimously yesterday to retain the amendments to protect Donaghcumper. The County Development Plan is now adopted.

Italia

Celbridge is in a mess.
A new bridge, or major restructuring of the existing one is badly needed. Most of the roads etc are dated / suited to days when less than 2000 people lived in the area. Not sure how many people live in the area now, but it must be somewhere in the 20-25k region.

As seems normal for Ireland, developments were given the green light without any form of serious environmental impact studies or long term development planning.

In addition to this, there has been a proliferation of traffic 'calming' measures that are (IMHO) beyond belief. A prime example are the series of humps in the road that goes from Setanta hotel into the village. This is not some side road, but a MAJOR thorughfare. Were humps the only solution?
I understand that there were probably valid reasons for the complain (probably speeding) that led to these being put up. Instead of introducing an engineering solution how about some SERIOUS traffic law enforcement by the lads in blue? When last did anyone do any enforecement in Celbridge? It's not illegal do do so. The boys do have jurisdiction.....

And the decision to install parking meters in residential areas is (IMHO) just as daft. What about residents that have no driveway of more than 1 car?

I realise that the money has run out, but whoever is in charge of traffic/ urban planning for Celbridge needs to seriously relook at his / her objectives.

Here is a useful suggestion - how about putting up poles with street names? Not everyone uses pubs as landmarks

As an aside - I don't believe in petitions. Any given issue will present with a variety of different opinions. Invariably those who, rightly or wrongly, shout the loudest normally get their way.