A proposal to build 92 apartments at Scully's Field in Milltown , Dublin 6 - as well as a new pedestrian bridge across the River Dodder and a riverside space - has attracted widespread criticism from local political, residential and environmental groups.

An Bord Pleanála received 21 appeals in response to a planning permission granted by Dublin City Council to McGarrell O'Reilly developers for the development.

The appellants include the Green Party, the Irish Wildlife Trust, the Dodder Angler's Club, three residents associations, Scully's Field River Park Action Group and a number of residents groups and local individuals, mostly living at Ramleh Park.

One resident of Ramleh Park described the "proposal to discharge surface water into the Dodder" as "a most startling proposal.

The Dodder with its linear parks is an amenity enjoyed by a huge number of people and it is simply not right to use it as a storm water sewer."

The Irish Wildlife Trust said the development would result in a loss of riverine and riverbank habitat which would disturb species of plant, insect, bird and mammal.

Concern was expressed by one resident of Ramleh Park over the loss of "legally established rights of way" to Scully's Field by a number of house owners in the estate and the loss of mature deciduous trees on the site.

A number of appellants referred to the excessive density of the site and said the development is in contravention of the Z9 zoning of the site "to preserve, provide and improve recreational amenity and open space".

Some of the appeals queried the decision to build on a site with a history of flooding and said that vehicular access from Clonskeagh Road near the bridge would have a impact on traffic.

Other issues included a fear that the development would destroy the amenity value of the Linear Park, and would overlook the back gardens of between 30 and 40 houses in Ramleh Park and Ramleh Close areas.

The Green Party said the claim by the developers that 70 per cent of the site is public open space "is open to question", and appears to include the escarpment slopes and areas already open to the public, including the riverside walk and western and eastern ends of the site. The local angler's club emphasised the importance of the Dodder as a wild brown trout fishery.