New Cycle Track for Millennium Park

Two new learn 2 cycle tracks are being installed by Fingal County Council, at Millennium Park, Blanchardstown and in the park adjacent to Brackenstown Road, Swords.

These new cycle tracks will be used for cycling practice by local schools, for group cycling classes arranged by Fingal County Council and will also be open to the public for their use. 

New learn 2 cycle track at Millennium Park, Blanchardstown

The tracks will provide a safe learning environment for cycling students of all ages, from small children learning to cycle for the first time to those returning to cycling in their older years, and everyone in between. By learning on a flat surface with correct road markings people will learn to cycle safely obeying the rules of the road. This will later help them to feel confident and safe when using the road in reality.

The Blanchardstown track was created on top of the concrete area that is used for the skating rink in the festive period each year. This space has now become a useful feature all year-round, providing cycling opportunities when the ice rink is not in situ.

Learn-2-cycle-track-layout

Fingal cycling and walking officers will offer courses for adults, children and schools programmes in both spaces and we look forward to seeing lots of people using the tracks to practice their own safe cycling skills and teach their children those same skills. Off-road cycling on a course like these ones can really build your confidence and help you understand the safe behaviours needed when cycling on the road while also providing a fun experience in the parks.

The learn 2 cycle track at Millennium Park is now open for everyone to use

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Safe Routes to School Round for Scoil Ghráinne

Scoil Ghráinne Community National School is one of three schools in Dublin 15 selected for the next round of Safe Routes to School.

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme was developed in partnership by the National Transport Authority and Green-Schools in 2020, to encourage more walking and cycling to school, reducing traffic on roads at peak times and improving air quality around schools.

Surveys of parents suggest that 16% of students travel to Scoil Ghráinne by car and 81% by Active Travel - walking, cycling and scooting. When parents were asked 96% said they would support works at the front of the school that improve student safety, putting pedestrians and cyclists first.

Walking to school and arriving by bus to this busy area can be made safer by reducing car idling and providing a safe place for buses to stop. The works will involve:

• New crossing at Rosedale to make the walk to school much safer and easier.
• Creating a school bus parking area next to the roundabout and extending the footpath to this area 
• Adding bollards on both sides of Rosedale Road
• Creating a new raised, zebra crossing on Rosedale Road and repainting the existing zebra crossing at the entrance to Phibblestown Wood
•  Adding a new uncontrolled crossing with dished paving at the entrance to Rosedale Drive/Crescent     Adding high friction buff coloured road surfacing on Rosedale Road

The council will be liaising with the school, residents and other stakeholders in the coming weeks with construction expecting to begin before the summer.

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Ongar Barnhill Link Road

Construction has begun on the new Ongar Barnhill Link Road. The first phase was completed 10 years ago to allow access to Barnwell and the two schools there.

In this second phase Fingal County Council have contracted BAM Civil Ltd to build a 1.16km four-lane carriageway. Only the southbound carriageway will be built out initially. There is then a further approx. 0.9km of single carriageway road built out to completion, including two signalised crossroads and 3 roundabouts. All roads will include cycle lanes and footpaths.

An important part of the construction will be a new bridge over the Clonsilla-M3 Parkway rail line. The €14m project is expected to take two years to complete. This road will eventually connect to the proposed Kellystown road to run south of the railway from Carpenterstown and Porterstown, providing better connectivity for the Dublin 15 area.

This road will eventually connect to the proposed Kellystown road to run south of the railway from Carpenterstown and Porterstown, providing better connectivity for the Dublin 15 area.

Route option for Kellystown to Barnhill road

Kellystown Local Area Plan

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Active Travel

Active Travel is about using sustainable transport like cycling and walking and trying to replace a small number of our car journeys. To achieve this, Fingal County Council are expanding and improving our cycling and pedestrian infrastructure across the County.

Active Travel considers the needs of those who use prams, pushchairs, scooters and wheelchairs. Along fast or busy roads, new cycling infrastructure will be physically separated from traffic.

The 3-year Capital Programme 2024 to 2026 includes an overall provision for expenditure of €72.97m; local schemes include:

•     Ongar to National Aquatic Centre route €14.37m
•     Hartstown/Huntstown/Mountview  €1.1m for connecting to Ongar Road and Shelerin Road
•     Clonsilla to Damastown Cycle route €1.3m
•   Clonee to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre route €5.5m
•   Blanchardstown to Phoenix Park route €550k
•   Royal Canal to Dunsink Lane route €2.4m.

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Church Gate - New Housing for Clonsilla

Construction is expected to begin at the site beside Lidl on the link road this summer. This will be named Church Gate. The planning permission granted in 2018 is for 45 no 3 bed houses, 22 no 4 bed houses and 36 apartments in 2 blocks of 3 stories comprising 12 one bed and 24 two bed units (See map on back).

Further up the link road, the final phase of new houses at Castlefield Hall are due to go on sale in late April. I hope these will all be badly needed homes for first time buyers.

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Plan for Clonsilla Village

 Fingal County Council has commenced the process of preparing a new Framework Plan for Clonsilla.

This will be a proactive plan to manage and influence village-centre improvement in Clonsilla and act as a starting point for future funding opportunities and works within the study area.

The Plan will help in the revitalisation and improvement of Clonsilla and enhance the village centre and community infrastructure for existing and future communities.

The Council is now seeking input and suggestions from the public to identify local issues and make suggestions as to what the Framework Plan should address.

As part of the public consultation process there will be a ‘Drop-In Session’ at Blanchardstown Library on Monday 19th February 2024 between 4pm and 7pm. Please come along and have your say! This session will be conducted by a consultant facilitator who will focus on issues facing the future of Clonsilla.

Submissions or observations to the pre-draft stage of the Clonsilla Framework Plan can also be made in writing in the following ways:

·       By uploading submissions on the Fingal County Council Website: https://consult.fingal.ie/en/browse, or

·       by post to: Senior Executive Officer, Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. K67 X8Y2.

Please use one medium only to make your submission or observations to be received no later than 5pm on Monday 4th March 2024.

Any submissions shall state your name, address and where relevant, the body or organisation represented. Your name and body or organisation represented will appear on the list of submissions.

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