BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK
As part of the socio-economic regeneration of Ballymun, BRL plans to build a Business and Technology Park.
CORE ISSUES
1. Loss of Green Space and playing fields
2. Impact on the rest of the plan including housing
3. Employment Opportunities
Who will build the B&T Park?
A Joint Venture company consisting of BRL and Green Properties (see What's New) will develop the 'park'.
NO CONSULTATION HAS TAKEN PLACE
concerning any aspect of the details of this plan.
GREEN PROPERTY PLC
Green Property Plc. was registered on 25 May 1999. The registered address is 19/20 Earlsdfort Terrace, Dublin 2.
The members of the board are
Mr. Ray MacSharry, David McDowell, Daniel Kitchen, James McKenna, Kevin Wylie, Michael McCormac, Mark Cherry, Richard Hooper and Stephen Vernon.
David McDowell, Daniel Kitchen, James McKenna and Stephen Vernon are directors of many property companies.
BALLYMUN REGENERATION LIMITED
BRL will set up a JOINT VENTURE company to develop the B&T Park. It appears that BRL will sell land to the Joint Venture company. This Joint Venture will then develop the 'park' and split the profits between BRL and Green Property Plc.
HOW MUCH LAND IS INVOLVED?
The 'park' will be built on approx. 100 acres near the M50 junction in Ballymun. This includes the football pitches which our children use so these pitches will be lost forever. No detailed plans exist for the replacement of these pitches in Ballymun. In fact out of a total of 37 pitches in Ballymun at present, only 13 will be left after regeneration. But even this is not certain because 7 pitches presented on the Masterplan are located on land privately owned by Bovale Developments.
LOSS OF GREEN SPACE
Sports are proven to be the best safeguard we have to prevent our children falling into the drugs trap. Most of Ballymuns football pitches are on the land next to the M50 junction. These will be lost when the B&T Park is developed.
The company which tendered for the B&T Park was supposed to be able to offer 23 acres of land within 5Km of Ballymun to exchange for the SOME of the land lost to the B&T Park.
It is not certain that Green Properties has this land within 5 Km of Ballymun.
ANYWAY
What good are football pitches to the children of Ballymun when the pitches are 5Km away?
The whole plan for the Business and Technology Park must be reviewed. It is possible to have the 'park' and not lose so many pitches.
The issue isn't just pitches.
The more green space that is used to build the Business and Technology Park will mean that land will be needed somewhere else to build houses and provide what will be left over for green space.
This will mean higher housing densities and less green space.
So, in some cases, the private space given to people moving into new units will be in the form of balconies (according to BRL's EIS for hte Gateway Housing), instead of proper gardens where children can play safely.
We want the Business and Technology Park. Even if, at present, the job opportunities would be limited, it would still be valuable to us.
BUT BALLYMUN DESERVES TO BE CONSULTED ABOUT THE EXTENT OF IT AND THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE AND TO HAVE A SAY IN ITS FINAL APPEARANCE.
IMPACT ON THE REGENERATION PLAN INCLUDING HOUSING
1. TRAFFIC
Heavy-goods traffic will pass through Ballymun and be a threat to our children. BRL's transport policy must be reviewed (see Transport)
2. HOUSING
The Business and Technology Park will have to be serviced with a water supply, drainage and sewerage pipes. Drainage and sewerage with pass through Ballymun. Water pressure will be affected.
BUT our drainage and sewerage pipes are worn out and will not be properly replaced.
The plan for the Business and Technology Park, as it stands, will contribute to flooding in Ballymun if even only because it means more hard suface area (see Flooding). The same will apply for sewerage.
IN FACT
The BRL Masterplan has very little information on the Business and Technology Park. And nothing on the environmental impact of building the 'park'.
3. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
There MIGHT be some employment involved in the construction of the 'park'. It is not certain that Ballymun people will be involved in this. Either way, what happens when the park is built? Still, some jobs will be created to build the park.
We believe Ballymun people should be able to avail of the job opportunities generated by the 'park'. (see Education)
THE 'PARK' IS SUPPOSED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGENERATION OF BALLYMUN.
As the name suggests, the Business and Technology Park will require highly skilled workers, probably university graduates.
Yet 66% of our children leave school before doing their leaving Certificate.
AND
BRL has no detailed plans and no money for the educational provisions of the Masterplan.
(see our suggestions for Education)
IN FACT
Even BRL cannot be certain that the 'park' will create employment for Ballymun people
because employers will hire who they like, not who BRL tells them to employ.
THE ENTIRE PLAN FOR THE BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK MUST BE REVIEWED TO ENSURE BALLYMUN PEOPLE GET THE HIGHEST BENEFITS WITH THE LOWEST COSTS POSSIBLE FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE 'PARK'.
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