There was a large turn-out of residents of the Clonsilla Village area at a meeting to discuss the future of the Village and the Area Action Plan to be drawn up by Fingal County Council. The meeting, which was held on Tuesday November 20th, was organised by the Labour Party and was addressed by Joan Burton T.D. and local councillors Peggy Hamill and Michael O’Donovan.
Joan Burton said: “It was really encouraging to see such a high turn-out at the meeting and there were lots of positive and workable suggestions. We all know that there’s been a lot of bad planning when it comes to Clonsilla but there’s a big push for change now. We want to make Clonsilla a better place to live”.
Joan Burton noted that more facilities needed to be provided for residents in the area. “We badly need more facilities for the people in the community, especially young people and old people”.
Joan Burton remarked that any changes to the Village will have to take into account the current traffic situation:
“The proposed Aldi would have a very negative effect on traffic in the Village. The Village should develop in a way that is geared towards local traffic only, rather than ‘passing through’ traffic. We already have a lot of problems with congestion and don’t want to make it worse. Clonsilla is a place where people are settling and bringing up families, not somewhere that people drive through on the way to somewhere else”.
“Clonsilla is one of the few villages that there are in Dublin 15 and more needs to be done to preserve the character of the Village”.
“Whatever changes are brought it, I think it’s important to maintain the trees and hedgerows of the Village. We have done a lot to save the trees so we wouldn’t like to see them destroyed”.
Joan Burton has a number of suggestions for what could be done to improve the village: “We need a community centre and meeting places for local residents. Also car parking around the station is a major issue – there are only around 72 car parking places planned for Portersgate which is completely inadequate”.
“Additionally it would be great to see the Village opened up to the canal and then using the canal as an amenity, with improved walking facilities and facilities for canoeing”.
Many people at the meeting spoke about the Old Schoolhouse, the unique 3-storey old school building by the canal and railway line. Cllr. Peggy Hamill said that the County Council should be encouraged to acquire it and use it for community purposes.
Councillor Michael O’Donovan spoke about the need for extra school places for children in the area and the demand for good quality housing in the area for people looking to buy a family home for themselves and their children.
Joan Burton emphasised the importance of local residents making submissions for what they’d like to see changed in the Village
“Local people can have a say in how they want the village to look by sending a submission to Fingal County Council by December 6th with any suggestions or ideas that they may have. The Council will do a study guided by what the people of the area have to say. Submissions are free so I’d encourage everyone who has an interest in the Village to send one in”.