Group says council is 'ignoring' business concerns in Sandyford

Planning & DevelopmentAn association created by tenants of the former Sandyford and Stillorgan industrial estates has claimed Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is ignoring concerns raised by the group. It also believes the council has no strategy for the development of Sandyford.

Sandyford Business Estate Association (SBEA) made the claims at its AGM last Thursday. The group, meeting at AIB Finance/Leasing at Sandyford Business Estate, challenged the council and other stakeholders, asking for quicker action and better consultation on a range of issues affecting the businesses there.

SBEA officials said that, while there was general acceptance of the disturbance caused by construction on the estate as it evolves into a mix of commercial, business and residential, their concerns were not being considered. "People are being forced to move their business because of the lack of forward and joined up planning; because of insufficient access to the estate; and because of the poor working environment while developers are given priority over ratepayers," said Jim Leyden, deputy chairman of SBEA.

"If more businesses are forced to move, nobody wins. In addition, meaningful consultation between the stakeholders is very poor. For example, in the recent Sandyford Land Use and Transport Study it would appear that a key stakeholder, such as the NRA, was not consulted in the process."

The SBEA pointed out that the Sandyford Business Estate produces an annual turnover of €15.6 billion, employs 24,000 and contributes €1.2 billion annually to the local economy. It also produces significant income for the council, contributing an annual rates payment of €70 million, 60 per cent of all rates paid to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, said SBEA.

While supportive of the changes coming for the area, development "should be orderly and occur in tandem with the development of appropriate infrastructure. This is not happening in Sandyford," said Leyden.

The organisation raised a number of complaints related to access to the site and a decline in the quality of the environment there. SBEA said there were currently three access points to the estate but that three more were needed "as well as a new southbound access road off the Leopardstown Road to the M50". The "high volumes" of construction traffic were also damaging the "good environment" of the estate, SBEA claims.

There was widespread illegal car-parking that produced a hazard and also a lot of dirt thrown up by construction work.

In addition, public roads have been licensed to the developers. "SBEA sees no reason why the developers cannot be directed to keep their areas clean, as they do on other sites around the city, and wash down the roads."

It also raised concerns about a traveller encampment there, a situation that "must be handled by the authorities", the group states.

"SBEA is seeking immediate action on the upkeep of the estate and meaningful consultation on existing and future development plans."