Moving to new web-address

Thanks to everyone for following my blog. I’ve now moved it over to http://rodericogorman.com so if you’re following by feed reader etc. please head over there to keep up to date with my work and campaign.

The campaign is heating up now and I’m in with a shot of getting a seat on Fingal County Council but it will be a battle. If you’d like to lend a hand on the campaign trail you’re more then welcome. Just leave a comment or send me an email.

Roderic

O’Gorman calls for 3 storey height limit as part of Blanchardstown Village Development Strategy

29/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, has called for a 3 storey height limit on any future development in Blanchardstown. The proposal was made as part of his submission to Fingal County Council on the Blanchardstown Village Development Strategy.

“I have urged Fingal County Council to implement a 3 storey height limit on any future developments in the Blanchardstown Village area. We have seen over the last two years attempts by developers to get permission for high rise developments in the centre of Castleknock and Clonsilla villages. While it is unlikely that any major developments will take place in the next year or two, there are locations such as the Superquinn site that builders may in the future wish to develop intensively. It is vital therefore that we insert a height limit of 3 storey’s in the development strategy so developers never get permission to put high rise in the centre of Blanchardstown village”, Roderic O’Gorman.

The submission from the Dublin West Green Party included a number of other points also.

Press Release – O’Gorman welcomes clarification about opening and closing times for Rushbrook – Roselawn Road laneway

Roderic O'Gorman at Rushbrook-Roselawn Road laneway

22/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has welcomed the clarification by Fingal County Council regarding the opening and closing time of the gates on the Rushbrook – Roselawn laneway. He was speaking after some residents had raised concerns that the gates were no longer being locked at night as agreed with local residents.

“Recently, residents in Rushbrook raised concerns with me that the gates on the Rushbrook – Roselawn laneway were not being locked at night as was agreed with Fingal County Council. I have raised the issue with the Council and they have confirmed to me that a security company have been engaged by the Transportation Department to open and close the gates at 7:00AM and 10:00PM daily”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“I am pleased that Fingal County Council has provided this certainty for those living in the area. While the laneway is a useful shortcut, it is essential that it is not used for anti-social behaviour. The continuation of the night-time locking is vital to ensure security for the residents of those houses adjoining the laneway”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777

No progress on widening footpath at Castleknock Station (yet)

Roderic O'Gorman at narrow footpath outside Castleknock Train Station

A few weeks ago I raised the issue of the narrow footpath on the humpback bridge linking Blanchardstown to Castleknock Train Station.

I was disappointment by the response from Fingal County Council that it has not current plans to wider the footpath at the humpback bridge over the rail line and the canal at Castleknock Station.

I regularly see pedestrians forced out onto the road when they meet someone else on the footpath. There they cause a real risk for motorists and cyclists whose visibility is severely restricted when they cross the crest of the bridge.

I had this issued raised at a meeting of Fingal County Council earlier this month but unfortunately the County Manager has responded by saying there are no plans to deal with the problem in this year’s Transportation Works budget. This strikes me as ridiculous I have found minutes of Fingal County Council meetings dating back to 2002 when this exact issue was being raised and still nothing has been done about it.

I will continue to highlight this issue and work to have remedial works included in the 2010 Transportation Budget. It is simply unacceptable that such a dangerous situation for pedestrians, motorists and cyclists alike is permitted to continue.

Footpath at Castleknock Station needs to be widened

Narrow Foothpath at Granard Bridge - Blanchardstown

As someone who lives in Blanchardstown and gets the train from Castleknock every day, I think the footpath leading from the junction of the Roselawn Road and the Castleknock Road up the humpback bridge to the station is far too narrow. Obviously this is an extremely busy area for pedestrians, with commuters from Blanchardstown going to and from Castleknock Station.

In reality, there is only enough space for one person to walk on this section of the footpath. When two people meet, one is forced out onto the road in order to pass. Obviously, this creates a major danger for pedestrians and also for passing cars and cyclists. Added to this, visibility at this point is limited due to extremely bad lighting and the fact that cars and bicycles often cross the crest of the humpback bridge quickly.

I think it’s really important that Fingal County Council investigate means of improving safety at what is a very busy stretch of footpath. I was looking up the minutes of old Fingal County Council meetings and this issue was raised as far back as 2002. It’s time the Council took action to remedy a dangerous situation.