A public meeting on the proposed 1.5 billion euro ‘mini city’ to be built on Poolbeg, Sean Moore Park and Irishtown Nature Park was one of the most well-attended in the history of Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA).Over 400 people gathered in Lakeland’s School, Sandymount including Labour Party TD Mr Ruairi Quinn, Green Party TD, Mr John Gormley and local councillors Dermot Lacey (Lab), Lucinda Creighton (FG) and Wendy Hederman (PD) to discuss the proposed area which is to be called ‘South Bank’.

SAMRA residents association planning officer Lorna Kelly provided an overview of the controversial Strategic Development Framework and plans for the proposed ‘South Bank’ development.

Ms Kelly showed slides of the plan to the audience and explained the various zonings, breaches in planning and the proposed high-rise development.

The destruction of the Nature Park, high-rise development and a road on Sean Moore Park where the floodlit pitches now stand was discussed along with possible interference to tide patterns, potential flooding issues and the dangers of building on a low coastal area.

Engineer and environmentalist Maurice Bryan pointed out the lack of infrastructure in the plan. He spoke of the lack of feeder routes into the area, the lack of public transport and the bizarre suggestion that parking spaces in existing local communities should also serve the new town.

Mr Byrne said the long-awaited Eastern Bypass was barely mentioned in the plans. The lands set aside to facilitate access and feeder roads to connect the M50 to the proposed Eastern By-Pass had now been allocated to other uses in the Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council’s area Development Plan.

Some of those who attended the meeting expressed disbelief at the South Bank proposals. John Gormley TD called on all political parties to work together to defeat the plan.

Ruairi Quinn, TD said his own home had been flooded in the past and it was an experience he would not wish to repeat. “The increased flooding risk, the traffic problems, soil contamination and lack of public transport in the plan are seriously worrying,” he said. He added that part of the Poolbeg Peninsula would inevitably be used for development, particularly the Glass Bottle House site, but that local people must be consulted at an early stage and be involved in any future plans for the area.

Anyone with objections should make their feelings known by contacting their local representatives or Dublin City Council.