SAVE OUR SEAFRONT
Submission
to Tim Carey, Heritage Officer,
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council
on
Dalkey Islands Conservation Plan 2013 - 2023
Introduction
Save our Seafront is a community organisation established in 2002 based in Dun Laoghaire. It is committed to protecting our coastal & marine environment and also to preserving our foreshore in public ownership for the access & enjoyment of the people of Ireland.
The vision of the Conservation Plan as set out in this draft: ‘to manage the islands as a unique heritage asset, to endeavour to safeguard, preserve, maintain, promote awareness of, try to facilitate appropriate access to & to manage under the principle of minimal intervention .’ is very much similar to the general aims of the Save our Seafront organisation.
Comments on Plan
Vulnerabilities – Part 4
‘The sense of isolation which is a defining characteristic is vulnerable to significant increases in visitor numbers & to changes to the islands to accommodate visitors’
‘vulnerability of flora, birds, goats, marine mammals’
· Thankfully your study doesn’t seem to have uncovered evidence of any very serious damage so far resulting to the island’s structures, flora & fauna and archaeology from the unofficial random visitors to the islands for the past 80 years or so but there is undeniably an element of litter, beer cans, barbeques etc
· While it is important to maintain public access, this aspect will require very sensitive management . Even were the Council to arrange official monitored guided tours with restricted access, restricted visiting hours & seasons, it is possible that the random access by the public would still continue at the same time, thus increasing footfall & possibly risk of damage.
· Accordingly, rather than arranging tours which might increase the risk of damage to the islands & their sense of isolation, might there be a case for having a mini Visitor Centre somewhere in the Coliemore vicinity - only as the lesser of two evils as visitor centres can be inappropriate ? Perhaps it could be sited say at Dillons Park which would have a good view of the islands without being too intrusive.
‘The views to the east of the islands are vulnerable to any developments in the Irish Sea’
· It appears on the face of it that the islands are protected by considerable legislation – (SAC 2012, SPA 2010, the Wildlife Act, 1976, The Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC), EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Life fauna, and Flora (92/ 43/ EEC), Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats , Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, structures protected under the Planning Act etc.)
· However it is a cause for considerable concern that initial licences in relation to drilling for oil &/or construction of a 145 turbine wind farm in the immediate vicinity have already been granted, Furthermore, applications to commence such operations, which will not only destroy the views from the islands but will effectively result in complete industrialisation of the area & consequent destruction of the delicate eco-balance, are being given serious consideration at the present time.
· Any sanction of the licences presently being sought whether for wind farm or oil rig in the area would indeed be incompatible with the preservation of ‘the sense of isolation, the wildness akin to the West Coast, which is such a characteristic of the islands’. Such development would undoubtedly impact on the character, heritage, & wildlife of the islands and possibly on tidal flow & deposition around the islands.
· Save our Seafront are opposed to and have been campaigning for some time against any such development so close to shore & are calling on Government to implement international best practice of a 22km offshore buffer zone. .
Public Engagement – Part 2.6
‘Unregulated ferry service to the islands ceased in 2010’
· Informal boat trips bringing visitors can still be seen on a fine day !
Statutory Policy & Protection Part 1.7
Policy AR7 Protection of Coastline Heritage: ‘It is Council policy to promote the retention of features of the County’s coastal heritage where these contribute to the character of the area’
· It is unclear what exactly this statement means & whether it might adversely affect the Dalkey Islands Conservation Plan.
Summary
The Steering Committee and the authors of this most informative, sensitive & well thought out Conservation Plan are to be congratulated. Subject only to the issues raised above, Save our Seafront trust that the Plan will be implemented, with the guiding principle always being that of minimal intervention. The contents of this Plan deserve to be available to a wider audience and hopefully a version of same might be published as the definitive Guide to the Dalkey Islands.
Many thanks for undertaking this good work.
Save our Seafront
9 August 2013 saveourseafront@gmail.com
Submission
to Tim Carey, Heritage Officer,
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council
on
Dalkey Islands Conservation Plan 2013 - 2023
Introduction
Save our Seafront is a community organisation established in 2002 based in Dun Laoghaire. It is committed to protecting our coastal & marine environment and also to preserving our foreshore in public ownership for the access & enjoyment of the people of Ireland.
The vision of the Conservation Plan as set out in this draft: ‘to manage the islands as a unique heritage asset, to endeavour to safeguard, preserve, maintain, promote awareness of, try to facilitate appropriate access to & to manage under the principle of minimal intervention .’ is very much similar to the general aims of the Save our Seafront organisation.
Comments on Plan
Vulnerabilities – Part 4
‘The sense of isolation which is a defining characteristic is vulnerable to significant increases in visitor numbers & to changes to the islands to accommodate visitors’
‘vulnerability of flora, birds, goats, marine mammals’
· Thankfully your study doesn’t seem to have uncovered evidence of any very serious damage so far resulting to the island’s structures, flora & fauna and archaeology from the unofficial random visitors to the islands for the past 80 years or so but there is undeniably an element of litter, beer cans, barbeques etc
· While it is important to maintain public access, this aspect will require very sensitive management . Even were the Council to arrange official monitored guided tours with restricted access, restricted visiting hours & seasons, it is possible that the random access by the public would still continue at the same time, thus increasing footfall & possibly risk of damage.
· Accordingly, rather than arranging tours which might increase the risk of damage to the islands & their sense of isolation, might there be a case for having a mini Visitor Centre somewhere in the Coliemore vicinity - only as the lesser of two evils as visitor centres can be inappropriate ? Perhaps it could be sited say at Dillons Park which would have a good view of the islands without being too intrusive.
‘The views to the east of the islands are vulnerable to any developments in the Irish Sea’
· It appears on the face of it that the islands are protected by considerable legislation – (SAC 2012, SPA 2010, the Wildlife Act, 1976, The Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000, EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC), EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Life fauna, and Flora (92/ 43/ EEC), Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats , Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, structures protected under the Planning Act etc.)
· However it is a cause for considerable concern that initial licences in relation to drilling for oil &/or construction of a 145 turbine wind farm in the immediate vicinity have already been granted, Furthermore, applications to commence such operations, which will not only destroy the views from the islands but will effectively result in complete industrialisation of the area & consequent destruction of the delicate eco-balance, are being given serious consideration at the present time.
· Any sanction of the licences presently being sought whether for wind farm or oil rig in the area would indeed be incompatible with the preservation of ‘the sense of isolation, the wildness akin to the West Coast, which is such a characteristic of the islands’. Such development would undoubtedly impact on the character, heritage, & wildlife of the islands and possibly on tidal flow & deposition around the islands.
· Save our Seafront are opposed to and have been campaigning for some time against any such development so close to shore & are calling on Government to implement international best practice of a 22km offshore buffer zone. .
Public Engagement – Part 2.6
‘Unregulated ferry service to the islands ceased in 2010’
· Informal boat trips bringing visitors can still be seen on a fine day !
Statutory Policy & Protection Part 1.7
Policy AR7 Protection of Coastline Heritage: ‘It is Council policy to promote the retention of features of the County’s coastal heritage where these contribute to the character of the area’
· It is unclear what exactly this statement means & whether it might adversely affect the Dalkey Islands Conservation Plan.
Summary
The Steering Committee and the authors of this most informative, sensitive & well thought out Conservation Plan are to be congratulated. Subject only to the issues raised above, Save our Seafront trust that the Plan will be implemented, with the guiding principle always being that of minimal intervention. The contents of this Plan deserve to be available to a wider audience and hopefully a version of same might be published as the definitive Guide to the Dalkey Islands.
Many thanks for undertaking this good work.
Save our Seafront
9 August 2013 saveourseafront@gmail.com