Consultations on Dundrum link road to continue

Public consultation on the proposed Sandyford Industrial Estate link road in Dundrum will continue this week.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have invited submissions on the 1.7km road, which will join the Wyckham bypass extension and Blackthorn Drive.

The road will run parallel with the Luas line, crossing it by bridge near the Balally stop and is likely to be opposed by local residents.

Residents of Balally Drive, Lakelands Close and Holywell have said that they will object.

The road will run near their gardens and they are concerned that noise from the traffic will be detrimental to the value of their homes and quality of life.

Land at the rear of Lakelands Close, which will accommodate the road, had been used as a depot and soil deposit during the construction of the Luas line.

It was also recently prepared as an overflow car park for Dundrum town centre.

The level of this site has been raised to such an extent that if the link road is constructed drivers will be able to see into the bedroom windows of Lakelands' homes.

Residents are also concerned that mature trees near Balally Drive, which had been saved from destruction during a recent residential development, could be lost to the new road. Concerns have also been raised about the future of Airfield Trust House and farm.

The 35 acre Airfield estate was left in trust by the late Overend sisters, who wanted the house and farm preserved after their death for the benefit of future generations of Dubliners.

The new link road will skirt the boundary of the estate and run close to lands which are zoned for residential development.

Residents and local councillors are concerned that the new road will encourage the trustees of Airfield to develop the lands.

So far, none of the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillors have come out in support of the road and local deputies Eamon Ryan (Green) and Olivia Mitchell (FG) have voiced their concerns.

Ms Mitchell said the planned road has been "retrofitted" into a space that was never intended to accommodate it.

"With most roads you can provide amelioration measures for nearby residents, but in this case there is no space," she said.

Mr Ryan said that it is not the way forward for Dundrum.

"It doesn't make transport sense and it would take from the asset that Airfield is to south Dublin," he said.

Plans for the link road are available for viewing at the council until April 22nd, and submissions will be accepted until May 6th.

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