Move to protect Airfield

Several members of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are to seek a variation of the county development plan to protect land…

Several members of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are to seek a variation of the county development plan to protect land at Airfield House and Farm in Dundrum.

Concerns for the future of the house and farm were raised last month when the local authority published plans for a new road from the Wyckam Bypass Extension to Blackthorn Drive.

The proposed Sandyford Industrial Estate Link Road - due to be voted on before the summer - will take in part of the boundary of the Airfield Trust lands.

Local residents and councillors fear that because part of the land close to the proposed road is zoned residential it will open the floodgates for development.

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Cllr Gearoid O'Keefe (Ind) said he had already got the backing of Dundrum councillors for the variation, adding that discussions would take place next week between group leaders in the council on the issue. He admitted, however, that the variation would not necessarily prohibit the construction of the road.

"What we have got to do is make sure Airfield is safeguarded once and for all. We want to make sure the variation goes through and then decide on the merits of the road," he said.

"Our biggest fear is that the road will be voted in while the lands are still zoned residential, leaving the door open to applications for development."

A motion proposing the variation is to be put to the council in May. If approved, the issue would then go to public consultation before a decision in the autumn.