Dundrum link road opposed by farm trustees

The Airfield Trust is opposed to plans for a controversial new road along the southern perimeter of its farm at Dundrum in south Dublin.

The trust, which runs one of the city's last remaining urban farms, says it is "seriously concerned" about the proposed Dundrum to Sandyford Industrial Estate link road. The road would involve the compulsory purchase of a strip of land on the trust's estate.

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has invited submissions on its plans for the 1.7km road, which would run from the newly-opened Dundrum town centre, along the Luas line and into the Sandyford Industrial Estate.

Last Thursday, an information meeting attended by 400 local residents, as well as TDs and county councillors, heard widespread criticism of the proposed scheme, principally because of its effect on the Airfield estate and on adjacent housing estates.

In a statement, the Airfield Trust told the meeting there was no truth in claims that the road might "open the floodgates" to development on the estate. The trustees had "no plans" to develop the fields adjacent to the proposed road, which are zoned residential, it said.

Airfield says it plans to enhance the educational and recreational potential of the estate by developing its farm centre and a range of habitats, and improving pathways and planting. However, the proposed road would have a significant impact on these improvements.

"In the event of the road going ahead, the proposed design is totally unacceptable. The environmental impact report does not appear to recognise the valuable role of the trust, and does not address the impact of the road on Airfield."

The trust also called on all parties to consider the road on its merits, and not to use Airfield as a "political football" in the debate.

Green TD Eamon Ryan says he is opposed to the road, which would effectively provide a second access route from the M50 to Dundrum town centre, because "it makes no transportation sense" and would have a "dramatic effect" on local residents.

The council says a feasibility study on the new road found that it will serve as a key link to the motorway network from Dundrum and the Sandyford Industrial Estate. It says the main environmental impact of the proposed road would be traffic noise but this could be mitigated by the use of low-noise resurfacing and localised noise barriers.

Councillors will have the final say on the matter in the autumn, after the consultation process is completed.

Airfield House and farm was the home of the late Overend sisters who wanted their property preserved for the benefit of future generations of Dubliners.

Last year, the estate was at the centre of a controversy when councillors rezoned three of its 37 acres for neighbourhood development, to accommodate a plan to help develop the city farm and estate. Following public pressure, the zoning was changed to open space and the plan to develop Airfield Trust lands was put on hold.