Dublin West Greens clean up Royal Canal

Discussing canal with Deirdre and Noel Spain of Royal Canal Amenity Group

Myself, Simon Herbert and Deirdre De Burca at Coolmine Station after the clean-up

19/04/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate Roderic O’Gorman and Mulhuddart ward candidate, Simon Herbert, have thanked Dublin 15 residents for their support of the Green Party clean up of the Royal Canal between the 12th Lock and Clonsilla Train Station. About 20 volunteers joined in the clean-up on Saturday afternoon, along with Dublin European Election candidate, Deirdre De Burca.

“We had about 20 volunteers out with us today, cleaning the Royal Canal all the way from the 12th Lock bar down to Clonsilla Station. We shifted about 15 sack loads of rubbish – mostly cans and bottles, along with various other items of waste, including at least one dead rat! It’s such a shame that a small minority of people treat the canal in this way. If I’m elected to Fingal County Council in June I intend to work to ensure that the canal and the surrounding area is developed in a way that allows more people to enjoy it”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

The clean-up in Dublin 15 was part of a serious that the Green Party were organising along the Royal Canal. Local election candidates Gary Fitzgerald in Cabra-Glasnevin and David Geary in North Inner City also had teams working on their sections of the canal.

“As we worked our way along the bank, we met lots of people out walking and enjoying the fantastic day. All were really positive about the clean-up that the local Green Party organised, which was part of An Taisce’s National Spring Clean. We would like to thank Fingal County Council for arranging to pick up the rubbish from us at Coolmine Station”, stated Simon Herbert.

The Dublin West Green Party and local volunteers were joined in the clean-up by Dublin European Election candidate for the Green Party, Senator Deirdre De Burca.

“I really enjoyed getting involved in today’s clean-up. Like the rest of Dublin’s waterways, the Royal Canal is a real resource. It provides a green route all the way from Dublin City centre to the Shannon. It has real potential for tourism as well as being a fantastic leisure amenity for walkers and cyclists”, stated Deirdre De Burca.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
Simon Herbert: 086 381 8865
Deirdre De Burca: 086 806 1450

Take part in our Canal Clean-Up – Saturday 18th – 2 PM

Next Saturday (18th April) myself and Simon Herbert (Green candidate in Mulhuddart ward) are taking a break from campaigning to lead a clean up along the Royal Canal as part of National Spring Clean.

We are meeting in two groups – Simon’s group will be meeting at Clonsilla Station and my group will be meeting at Castleknock Train Station. We will be cleaning the area around the two stations, then we will be working along the bank of the Canal and meeting at Coolmine Station.

The clean-up kicks off at 2 PM. Do come and join us. The Royal Canal is a real resource for Dublin 15, but unfortunately it is often littered. Myself and Simon are inviting people from across Dublin 15 to help us give this stretch of the canal a good cleaning

Changes to Clonsilla Road must not create inconvenience for St Mochta’s residents – O’Gorman

29/03/09

Green Party Castleknock ward candidate, Roderic O’Gorman has called on Fingal County Council to ensure that residents of St Mochta’s estate are not blocked in their estates as a result of proposed changes to the Clonsilla Road to remove the current one way system and reinstate two way traffic.

“Fingal County Council is currently considering whether to remove the current one way system and reinstate two way traffic along the Clonsilla Road. There has been considerable pressure to undertake this change as the existing one way system makes it difficult to reach Clonsilla Village”.

“A number of residents of the St. Mochta’s estate off the Clonsilla Road have contacted me about their fears that they will find it difficult to exit the estate in the event of the proposed change back to two way traffic being made. Exiting the estate was difficult before the current one way system was introduced and they fear a return to this situation”, stated Roderic O’Gorman.

“I have written to Fingal County Council and urged them to ensure a full set of traffic lights is installed at the junction of the Clonsilla Road, the Porters Road and St. Mochtas Estate and that these are timed to give adequate opportunity for traffic exiting St. Mochta’s estate. The current proposal from the Council makes reference to “upgrade traffic signals” at this point, which is somewhat vague, as is the map of the works provided”.

“I agree that returning to the old two way system on this section of the Clonsilla Road will probably ease traffic congestion in the area. However, it is absolutely vital that the people of St Mochta’s are not made suffer for this. I strongly urge the Council to take note of my submission and ensure that residents have adequate time to enter and exit their estate”, concluded Roderic O’Gorman.

Ends

Further Information
Roderic O’Gorman: 087 417 9777
www.rodericogorman.com

Litter in Coolmine Woods must be tackled

Litter at Coolmine Woods

Recently residents in the Coolmine area have highlighted to me their concerns about the large amount of litter in Coolmine Woods and along the laneway linking the Clonsilla Road to the Snugborough Road. I visited the area and there are a large amount of beer cans and bottles, paper and plastic litter lying among the trees and behind the wall beside the bus stop.

The Coolmine Woods are now much more open since the Council cut back much of the undergrowth. While this makes the route safer to travel, it has also revealed the large amount of litter that collects in the area.

I have raised this issue with Fingal County Council and I look forward to them removing the litter in question.

Proposal to remove one-way system and introduce two-way traffic at Clonsilla Road

Fingal County Council are proposing to end the current one-way system on the Clonsilla Road between Blanchardstown Road South and Porters Road/St. Mochtas Estate.

These works will involve the removal of the existing bollards and build-outs, construction of a new road surface and footpath and some road widening.

There will also be a new signalised junction and pedestrian crossing at the junction of the Clonsilla Road, the Porters Road and St. Mochtas Estate.

The proposals can be viewed at the Fingal County Council offices at the Blanchardstown Centre. They can also be viewed on the Fingal County Council website here.

If you have any comments that you wish to make on this proposal, dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated, they must be made in writing to:

Tommie Mc Manus, Administrative Officer, Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Submissions must be delivered by 4.30pm on Tuesday 31st March, 2009.