Ballymun New Century Development Group helps BRL.
At an open public meeting tonight to view final housing designs, BRL and the architects ran into a slight problem. You are probably familiar with the computer designed models of the housing plans that are now a common feature of the final design presentations. Tonight, BRL and the Architects couldn't get the computer programme to load. It looked like people wouldn't get to see the house designs afterall.
Then one of the architects made an appeal to see if anyone in the audience knew anything about computers.
As luck would have it for BRL, there was. Peter Lydon, of the Ballymun New Century Development Group offered assistance and demonstrated how to get the computer programme to load. All was saved.
Mr. Lydon said afterwards, 'I'm only too happy to help BRL solve whatever problems it has. It is very important that Ballymun people can see what the houses they will get will look like. Afterall, they will have to live in them. I look forward to helping BRL more in the future and hope that they will feel free to call on me should they need more help to solve their problems'.
Ballymun Community, Arts and Resource Centre opened. There is liited space and it is being leased at �15 per square foot per annum. We hope it will not be damaged by the demolition of McDonagh Tower.
St. Pappins Church sold to private developer
St. Pappins Church, standing on almost an acre of land, on Ballymun Road has been sold to Private developers Woodgreen Builders Limited for �201,000. The church was built by the Domville family in the 19th Century for the Catholic population of Ballymun and Santry. Many in the community hoped that the building would be given to the community. It would have made a fine Heritage Centre. Now however it's future is uncertain. Although it is a listed building, it is in a poor state of repair. Woodgreen Builders want to use it as a nursing home however the same company is interested in developing accommodation in Ballymun for students. A London based company, Hampton Trust Plc. had offered to buy the church for $500,000 and give it to the community however this offer was rejected. BRL had offered �150,000 for the church..
An article published in The Irish Times Education and Living Supplement summarises the results of an evaluation carried on on the BITE Programme. This excellent programme has been very successful in creating new futures for Ballymun students. Ideally, we would like to see funding for BITE increased as a good education gives our children the best hope for a successful future.
At a meeting called by Coultry residents, the residents expressed their serious concern at housing developments on Santry Avenue. The residents, who are affected by the housing developments there said they do not mind houses going up on Santry Avenue but said they knew nothing about the plans submitted to Dublin Corporation for planning permission. One woman didn't know that she will be unable to exit her back gardens after the construction is finished. The meeting was called by Coultry residents and facilitated by Ballymun New Century Development Group.
A wide variety of views were expressed and heard at the meeting, including the views of Ballymun Housing Task Force Limited and Mr. O. Scully of the Coultry Forum. Mr. Scully said he had fought with BRL to stop apartments being built on Santry Avenue. However he did not respond when it was mentioned that BRL are building apartments there anyway. He did say that only 1 four bedroom apartment was being built.
(To read the (basic) proposals submitted to Dublin Corporation for Santry Avenue, Click Here).
One opposing resident said there was a difference between flats and apartments and that Santry Avenue was getting apartments, not flats! He said he prefered buildings to the 'dump' that is outside his back garden at present. Some residents asked afterwards why BRL was building four storey apartments when Ballymun already has four storey flats.
The meeting was lively and we thank Mr. Scully, who presented some BRL views, and others for their invaluable contribution to the open discussion and for presenting their alternative view points. We also thank all the residents who attended and expressed their dismay at the lack of information provided by BRL. The residents supported Ballymun New Century Development Group in its attempt to inform them of the situation and requested more information. We provided them with details from the planners report for both developments on Santry Avenue which have been given planning permission. We also told them how they could verify the information we gave them to see that it was accurate. Unfortunately we could not present the residents with the actual maps because these are copyright of the architects. However we will endeavour to get more of the information Coultry Residents asked for so that they know how they are affected by developments on Santry Avenue and other parts of Ballymun.
Coultry Forum, not to be outdone by BNCDG, held a meeting to show the proposals for Santry Avenue to the residents. Many had never seen the plans before. In fact one resident, despite BRL's PR didn't know what BRL is! So much for consultation!
Mick McDonagh, BRL architect demonstrated the plans to the residents who were asked questions such as 'are you happy that the houses will be level with the housing there already'?. This was before hte residetn concerned could see the elevation drawings to show that the new houses may or may not be above the existing houses. Interestingly, of all the maps on display, ONE WAS MISSING. The missing map, viewed in the Dublin Corporation Planning Department by a resident only the previous day, showed an elevation drawing (front and rear view of the development) that there would be 2 four storey apartments opposite some residents. When asked where this map was , Mr. Ciaran Murray, Managing Director of BRL appeared to be unaware of the map's existence. Front and rear view elevation drawings are standard in any planning application, yet at the meeting they appeared to have, well, disappeared!
The most interesting thing about the meeting was what was not said. BNCDG will hold another meeting with Coultry Residents to inform them of this.
BRL announced that they have appointed Trinity College Historians 'Eneclann' to document the history of Ballymun. History is an important cultural activity and worthwhile in it's own right. However BNCDG believe that BRL's money would be much better spent on a proper process of consultation and all the other necessities of regeneration. Even more so when one considers that many histories have been produced on Ballymun, by CAP for example and others (Click Here for a Short Local History before the 1960's).
Also in the News Letter, BRL said it wants Ballymun's 500+ senior citizens to 'get active'. We wonder if this is because BRL are not putting lifts into any of the apartments. Perhaps BRL can tell us? Physical activity is good and should be promoted (by those responsible for this) and should not be used as a means of avoiding the provision of proper services within buildings regardless of age.