The decision of NAMA to sell 69 apartments in the Casino complex to an investment fund, for future rental, is a total reversal of an agreement reached with existing Casino residents that the apartments would be sold individually. It also a major blow to MCF’s policy of promoting the supply of suitably located step down accommodation in Malahide, to facilitate older residents move from larger properties to more manageable accommodation, located close to the amenities they require.
NAMA’s decision will
Not increase housing supply in the state
Condemn many older residents of Malahide to living in badly insulated houses, which they cannot now afford to heat or maintain, thus increasing the probability of them being hospitalised
Reduce the availability of older houses for sale in Malahide. These would have appealed to younger families who need additional space, but cannot afford the cost of new houses now being built in Malahide, but would have the time and energy to upgrade older properties and make them more energy efficient
The inability of the Minister for Housing to influence NAMA to make decisions consistent with Government policies, as is evident from the attached correspondence, is hugely disappointing
Correspondence can be found on the attachment below
Would a floating pedestrian/cycling boardwalk 50 metres into the estuary be feasible? Could it protect Caves Marsh wildlife; provide a safe route to school and help to connect Swords and Malahide? This is one of the options we’ve asked the council to explore.
The Malahide Community Forum has identified Seabury to Pope John Paul II primary school as one of our four priority routes for Schoolchildren to have safe access to School. We did this as we feel that Barrack Bridge is a pinch point on the way to School for walking due to the footpath’s width, and we think it is unsafe for cycling. Our views were backed up by a survey of 500 residents, where 78% (& 90% of parents of school children) also believed it as dangerous. Please find below the following:
Enabling residents to safely walk or cycle to local amenities
We’re fortunate to live or work in Malahide – it’s a wonderful place. We want to make it even better, by enabling residents to safely walk or cycle to local amenities, including schools, clubs and shops.
To progress this, we set up an Active Travel Sub Committee in 2020 to examine how Government Policy on Active Travel* can best be applied for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in Malahide. Active Travel is defined in the Government Active Travel Policy as travelling with purpose using your own energy to get to work, shop or school. Generally, this means travelling by foot or bike.
We identified 4 priority routes that we want the council to provide/improve in order to enable kids to safely bike or walk to school:
Seapark Hill to Seamount Road (footpath) – Critical part of safe route to Malahide Community School (MCS)
Caves Marsh Boardwalk – Safe route from Seabury to Pope John Paul II (walk / bike route)
New bridge over the railway into the back of Malahide Community School – safe route connecting to Malahide Demesne via Ashwood Hall. (walk / bike route)
Swords Road (R106) – Waterside to Malahide Castle (to allow for children from Waterside to get to PJP2 safely & for people from Malahide to get to the Educate Together High School safely) (walk / bike route)
While progress to date has been slow (detailed in our monthly notes), we expect this to accelerate rapidly over the next few years, based on Active Travel initiatives announced last year (2020) and especially those announced on 11th Feb this this year (2021):
Malahide (Main St) to Swords (Brackenstown Rd) €100,000 (via R106 – Swords Road)(Appointment of consultants to look at scheme from malahide village / greenway to Swords by McAllisters)
FCC to hold a public consultation on Sutton To Malahide cycle route (March 2021)
FCC to progress the Swords to Seabury cycle route along the inner Broadmeadow estuary (EUR1,000,000 was allocated in Sep 2020)
NTA will provide FCC with updated cycle network plan for Fingal
We hope to have a deputation meeting with FCC to discuss our proposals (deferred since May 2020 due pandemic)
We will inform residents of and seek their input to proposed Active Travel routes
What are we asking for? We believe that cycle routes should concentrate on providing safe routes to schools, clubs, shops parks and other community facilities, physically separated from motor vehicles whenever possible. We believe that priority should be given to pedestrians with adequate pavement space and crossing facilities. We believe pedestrians need proper pavement space and sufficient crossing facilities, separate to other road users including bicycles with prioritisation where there is conflict with other road users.
What does safe walking and cycling infrastructure look like:
Segregated / protected from motor traffic where possible
Segregated pedestrian and cycle infrastructure where possible
Minimum width / Desired width of footpaths and cycle paths
Pedestrian priority on “Share with care paths” – e.g. as currently in Malahide Castle
