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19th April 2016 • Volume 23, Issue 13 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
The 164th Brackenstown Scouts held their annual fundraising Cake Sale at St Cronan's Pastoral Centre, Brackenstown, Swords on Sunday, 10th April last. Pictured are scout members, Sophie Clarke, Aoibheann Brennan, Amelia Keating, Hannah Jennings, Cara Kehoe, Ciaran Nolan and Cian Kehoe with some of the delicious cakes
Modular Homes Postponed
The controversial proposal by the Council for the development of 40 modular housing units at Pinewood Green estate in Balbriggan, has hit a bump in the road.
By Patrick Finnegan The proposal, which was presented to last December’s Swords/Balbriggan local area meeting has been deferred to take into consideration the more than 700 submissions received by the local authority from people of Balbriggan and Pinewood in particular. Cllr Tony Murphy (NP), who has vehemently opposed the siting of the modular homes at Pinewood estate told the County Leader, “The most interesting thing regarding the Cllr. Murphy way people spoke on the motion was that nobody spoke in favour of it. This concurs with the amount of submissions and representations made by the people of Balbriggan in relation to modular housing.” “There were a number of debates surrounding the location not being suitable for modular housing, while others were about value for money. Information which has been received after the delivery of the Ballymun project shows that all the information pertaining to the costs does not offer value for money, particularly when the rapid build concept is anything but rapid. So I think that there has to be a complete rethink about it and the manner in which they deliver the concept,” he said. “What we need to look at in Balbriggan is the amount of social housing we have already, and the population increase in a very short period of time,” he said. The motion has been withdrawn for further discussion so the executive have taken the considerations of the many submissions on board. Murphy has a problem with three areas of modular housing being located in Balbriggan. “Firstly I think Balbriggan is a wrong choice of location, secondly I think Pinewood is wrong and thirdly, the whole concept of modular housing is flawed, as it creates a stigma around people who live in modular houses, as well as the area. It also represents poor value for money. According to the Building regulators, the cost of the houses is coming in at €240,000 per unit and this does not included the cost of the site. This all adds up to a cost of €360,000 per modular house. Building regs suggest that a unit of that size for
social housing can be delivered through a commercial developer on to the market for between ¤100,000 and €140.000 per unit. So there’s something wrong somewhere,” said Murphy. A spokesperson for the County Council said, “In accordance with the requirements of Part XI of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010 and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 - 2013, presented a report to the Balbriggan Swords Area Committee on the proposal to construct 40 new houses for social housing adjacent to Pinewood Green Court, Balbriggan. Following a discussion on the proposal, the Council agreed to bring a further report, on the development of housing at this location, to a future meeting of the Area Committee prior to submitting the proposal to a full Council meeting of Fingal County Council.’ Balbriggan based councillor, Malachy Quinn (SF) said, “The single greatest challenge to this Council is addressing of the homeless crisis in this county. Cllr. Quinn This proposal in its current form does not address the needs of either homeless families or the wider community – the modular housing model is far removed from the ideals of sustainable communities as it does not allow families coming from hotel rooms and hostels to bed down into communities, due to the fact that at some stage in the future, they will be offered homes in another location, thus preventing children from building friendships, as well as adults feeling a sense of social inclusion. “Sinn Fein’s housing policy does not include Modular housing and the building of conventional
brick built homes are the only solution to the housing crisis, that is why we budgeted for the provision of 100,000 homes over two terms of the Dail in our 2016 Budget. The site for the proposal although Zoned Residential is also deemed appropriate for both house building and the development of amenities, which are also required in this area of the town.
Balbriggan over the last 15 years has grown greatly, without any real investment in job creation or improved services. The Council must take due serious consideration of the submissions of the people of Pinewood, the residents of Balbriggan, as well as the contributions of councillors on this proposal,” he said. Cllr JP Browne (FG) said, “I attended a public meeting in Balbriggan and have privately met with representatives from the Pinewood Residents Association. There are concerns in relation to access to the units, possible anti-social behaviour as well as available amenities, such as school places and doctors in the town.” “Modular or rapid build housing offers a solution to the housing crisis. It may be temporary, but it is a solution nonetheless. When you hear of the hundreds of families living in small hotel rooms under terrible conditions, any relief that can be offered must be given serious Cllr. Browne consideration.” “We have been given very little information by Council officials. For example, we have no idea of Continued on page 2
Major Victory For Swords Solicitors In what is regarded as a landmark judgement, Swords firm, Shannons Solicitors secured a major victory at the High Court on Friday, 15th April last, which is likely to have far reaching implications for Ireland’s national parks and hill walkers. The case was taken by Tim Shannon of Shannons Solicitors on behalf of Swords woman, Teresa Wall aged 53, who was injured while out hill walking with her husband on the Wicklow Way on 6th August 2013. This is the second major victory for a Swords solicitor firm, following the
judgement made in favour of Hennessy Perrozzi regarding the preservation of Moore Street, as a 1916 battlefield site. Both victories have legal significance nationally. In a judgement, Judge Jacqueline Linnane said Ms Wall had been directed by signs, on the
Sally Gap to Djouce trail near Roundwood, to take a particular route using a wooden boardwalk. There was a sleeper there that was in poor condition. Ms.Wall slipped on the sleeper and she had to have seven stitches inserted in the wound to her knee. The boardwalk was a structure placed on the land by the defendant, The National Parks and Wildlife Service. The judge said, “It is clear to me, taking everything into account, that liability here rests with the defendant. The timbers were rotten and reasonable care was not taken to maintain same in a safe condition. There was no contributory negligence on the part of Ms Wall.” Ms Wall was awarded €40,000 in general damages. She brought proceedings for damaged for personal injuries sustained due to injuries, breach of duty and breach of statutory duty on the
part of the defendant. Ms Wall is an avid hill walker and she was supposed to run in a marathon the following month, but was unable to participate in the event. Mountaineering Ireland has said that the €40,000 damages award is contrary to a “long held and proud tradition” of mountaineering. Their president, Paul Kellagher said, “Mountaineering Ireland feels that this judgement runs contrary to this long established principle. We cannot continue to live our lives without the acceptance of personal responsibility, in the belief that every misfortune is someone else’s responsibility. The judgement, which may be appealed, may have serious implications for farmers who allow hill walkers to cross their land. Many of them may now decide this practice to be too risky for them to continue with.