The SAMRA AGM took place in Lakelands Girls’ School on Gilford Road on Tuesday 14th November.

The Meeting was opened by the Chairperson Joan MacArthur. She said that the Association had been under great pressure in recent years due to gigantic developments planned for the area: the Incinerator, the Fabrizia proposal along the causeway, the redevelopment of the Irish Glass Bottle site, the Poolbeg Peninsula development proposal and the problems caused by the Sutton to Sandycove cycle way.

The Chairperson said that members had been going over the Environmental Impact Statements for both the Incinerator and Fabrizia with submissions of some 17 to 36 pages.

Joan MacArthur said that the application for a development at Castle Park/ Gilford Road had been refused but will be back again with revised plans as soon as is allowed. A planning application was before the City Council for the complete Spar corner with a takeaway where the Little Feet shoe shop was and with the top floor as a restaurant, both possibly Chinese.

With regard to the Incinerator, she said that the association needed help from specialists in traffic management, air pollution, water pollution, environmental science, etc., to deal with the issues raised by such enormous planning applications. She asked for any help that could be given by individuals with such expertise.

Hon Sec. Catherine Cavendish read a five-page report of some of the year’s problems, including dog dirt on the streets, graffiti, parking and clamping. She thanked Cllr. Dermot Lacey, who in cooperation with Area Manager Eileen Brady made it possible for citizens to attend the meetings of the South East Area Committee in City Hall. Anyone interested should ask Dermot about this.

Lorna Kelly, the Planning officer for SAMRA, mentioned the OPW/Council booklet about flooding available in the South East Area Office on Cambridge Road. She went on to cover in detail various planning matters outlined by the Chairperson and Secretary

The following officers were returned, Joan McArthur, Ann Jordan, Des Flynn, Lorna Kelly Cathal Stanley, Catherine Cavendish, Kieran Best, Liam Handy, Cathal Mallon, Malachy Ryan, Tom Ponsonby.