Lansdowne locals 'devastated' at decision to reject recommendations

Residents in the area immediately surrounding the stadium, who had appealed to An Bord Pleanála against its development, said last night they were devastated by the decision to grant planning permission for the 50,000-seater stadium.

Locals were particularly shocked that the nine-member board had unanimously voted to grant planning permission against the recommendation of the board's own inspector who conducted a 10-day appeal hearing last December.

The inspector, Brendan Wyse, recommended against granting permission on the basis that the current site was not the most suitable and that the former Irish Glass Bottle site in Ringsend may be a preferable location.

Pauline Pomeroy of the O'Connell Gardens Boundary Group said she felt completely undermined by the decision.

"I'm totally devastated. Now we feel and we know that An Bord Pleanála took no consideration of our views." It was incredible, she said, that the board had gone against the recommendation of its own inspectors. This made the decision all the more difficult for residents to accept.

"I can't believe it, that they didn't even listen to the inspector, that makes it even more upsetting. They should not have the right to do this to us, they are practically taking our lives away." Ms Pomeroy said she would be meeting with her neighbours to decide what, if any, further action they could take.

Sophia Wallace, also a resident of O'Connell Gardens, suggested that in going against Mr Wyse's recommendation the board had not made an independent decision. "This decision is morally wrong. I believe the board was under political influence, over and above what should have taken place. This decision just smacks of Government influence and I say shame on the Government and shame on Minister O'Donoghue."

The decision of the inspector who heard the appeals should have been respected, she said. "We spoke from the heart and obviously the inspector took us seriously. I'm going to be living underneath that stadium, my health will be not be my home any more."

Frances Corr of the Bath Avenue and District Residents Association, said locals had been "totally ignored" by the board, and that further legal action would be considered.

"I'm very disappointed especially since the inspector had recommended rejection. What was that hearing, that went on over 10 days coming up to Christmas, all about?

"I will be speaking to other residents in the coming days on what we can do next . . . We haven't ruled out seeking a judicial review."