Plan for Malahide Castle adventure centre scrapped

Fingal County Council is not going ahead with plans to build a forest adventure centre at Malahide Demesne in a wooded area close to the famous historic castle. A High Court challenge to the development has been settled as a result.

Objectors had claimed the development was in essence a high-level route through the trees using wire ropes for transport, support and safety while a multi-use area was to include a car park.

In September, Noel Mahon of Inbhir Ide Close, Malahide, Co Dublin objected to the proposal, saying he feared he would no longer be able to walk through the woods due to the danger of hanging wires.

Campaign

He organised a Save Malahide Woodland campaign and lobbied councillors against the plan. Following Fingal County Council's decision not to proceed with the scheme Mr Mahon's solicitor, Alan Doyle, confirmed that the proceedings had been struck out.

Mr Mahon had sought an order quashing the council’s decision of July 11th last giving the proposed development the green light. The council had authorised the development at a meeting of its elected members by a vote of 18 to 16.

Mr Mahon claimed the council had failed to consider whether there would be a disturbance of the local bat population, a protected species in Ireland, particularly their feeding areas. The local authority had also failed to carry out an environmental impact assessment.