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Clontarf Rachael Kellegher

The Clontarf sea wall is changing again - and people and businesses in the area aren't happy

“I want it to finish. I don’t quite know how we will survive as I am struggling to even pay wages.”

BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS have said that they are deeply unhappy about newly-announced plans to carry out a further 12 months of construction on the flood defence wall in Clontarf in Dublin.

The wall has been at the centre of a long-running dispute after some residents were strongly critical of its height. The wall, built as part of the €5 million Clontarf cycle path, would obscure the sea views which the coastal road is renowned for, residents argued.

Work on the wall, which was due to be completed this month after two years of construction, is now expected to resume next month in order to reduce the height of the flood defence wall by up to 30cm along a half kilometre stretch facing St Anne’s Park.

It is reported that the wall height is being reduced to allow motorists have unrestricted views of the sea.

Residents and business owners in the area say that the traffic complications from the wall work has caused major problems.

A staff member from a clothing shop situated on the coast road said that business has been directly affected by the construction due to the traffic congestion associated with the road works.

“The ten weeks running up to Christmas should be our busiest period, however for the last two years it has been a complete disaster,” she said. “Customers that have been coming to us for years have told us how they have to avoid coming to us now because of the difficulties with traffic.”

Construction on the cycle path had been due for completion in July last year but was delayed due to the lengthy dispute.

20170411_121517 Rachael Kellegher Rachael Kellegher

The reduction in the flood wall, which is being undertaken as a separate project, is unable to commence until May this year at the earliest due to environmental restrictions.

Local resident Caroline Barry of Clontarf Road said that a lot of residents feel there has been no consideration made for those living in the affected area.

“There seems to be no rush in finishing this wall despite it having a massive impact on local residents and their daily commute. Bus routes have been altered and changed which has caused a huge build- up of traffic and subsequently extreme delays getting to and from work.

“A lot of us have been left disappointed with the lack of planning and communication with this lengthy build.”

‘It’s not worth the trouble’

Dublin City Council had originally planned to maintain traffic access along the coast road throughout the construction period, reducing it to one lane, with a stop-go system at certain times. However, a 24-hour shut down of the road occurred for a week at a time on two separate occasions during October last year in an attempt to expedite completion of the project.

Another resident Rachel Green from the affected area said that the lowering of the floodwall will only extend the difficulties for residents.

“Thirty centimetres of an extra view for motorists and residents is not worth the trouble we have gone through travelling to and from home for the past 2 years. Commuting to work is extended by anything up to 30 minutes at rush hour.”

The partial demolition of the newly built wall is expected to cost an additional €500,000 and is expected to take six to eight weeks to complete.

‘I want it to finish’

Yang’s restaurant, situated in the affected area explained that they have been struggling to meet rent and overhead costs due to a lack of customers.

“I want it to finish. I don’t quite know how we will survive as I am struggling to even pay wages. Nobody is considering how this is affecting us,” said Gillian, the owner of Yang’s.

“The council communicated with us in the beginning, but we were led to think this would take only a few months. Now, it’s two years later and the roads directly outside my restaurant have been closed for weeks at a time.”

Local Fine Gael councillor Naoise O’ Muiri acknowledged the issue facing businesses.

“I accept wholly the visible concerns expressed by businesses in the affected area that it has been a major disruption.

“However, at this final stage there should be a lot less construction impact to the road itself as the work should be confined to the wall in particular, rather than the road, the walkway and the cycle path.”

Local Fianna Fail Councillor Sean-Paul Mahon, who supports the continued construction, said he believes a lot of hassle could have been avoided.

“The big mistake in the first place with this project was not explaining the details to home and business owners in the area. Clear communication in the beginning would have saved the council a lot of time and money.”

The work to reduce the height of the wall will not be undertaken at weekends or during peak commuting times to lessen the impact on cyclists and walkers using the new path.

Read: Clontarf residents object to ‘mindless’ destruction of tram shelter

Read: Locals who objected to housing scheme given cash back after developer screw-up

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69 Comments
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    Mute Brian Heffernan
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:23 AM

    I was listening to Radio 1 yesterday morning and you’d think Mother Teresa had just passed away.

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:40 AM

    Lol.
    Instead of Al Capone.?

    64
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    Mute Dingleberrycity
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    Jan 16th 2016, 7:43 AM

    The characters are all dying off….

    81
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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:39 AM

    “IT’S UNLIKELY ANY other former government press secretaries will be mourned as publicly as PJ Mara has been over the last 24 hours, but then he was much more than that.”
    If that statement is true what does it say about our society.?
    The only thing most good and decent people will remember P.J for is the famous press conference where he tried to gag Vincent Browne,when he insisted on asking questions about the source of wealth of leaders of the Soldiers of Destiny:
    https://youtu.be/F6tQN6H_tVY

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:42 AM

    It’s off the Wall.! all this mourning for these so called “characters”..

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    Mute Maggie
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    Jan 16th 2016, 11:25 AM

    Don’t worry Bertie is here to stay unfortunately

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:42 AM

    Bertie was on tv yesterday talkin bout PJ. Bertie seemed much reder in tge face & especially his honger. Wonder if Cowen & homself are boozing buddies.

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    Mute Colin Forbes
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:10 AM

    Characters?! More like chancers!

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:48 AM

    I would use stronger terms than chancers, but one should not speak ill of the dead-nor of all the suicides which have occurred under the reign of Fianna Fail not to mention the long long waiting lists for housing; or hospital procedures today, for those who cannot afford private health insurance.
    I have no doubt that PJ’s family are very well provided for..

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    Mute William Kelly
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:51 AM

    No need to speak ill of the dead. Their record of “joint enterprise” in the corruption of our politics, & carpet bagger stroking of the economy,TACA, tents, brown envelopes, etc. will never be erased. Mara may well have been the clean face of the regime, but he loyally defended the indefensible.

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    Mute Prince of Burren
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:19 AM

    Showtime as the article refers to. These guys think they are playing a game when it comes to election have they ever wondered the trail of destruction they have left our country in for our children and grandchildren and many more generations to come, refraining from making comments on Mr. Mara rip

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    Mute Mark Dunne
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    Jan 16th 2016, 8:09 AM

    Scrap Saturday will never be the same again :(

    20
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    Mute Joe Nah
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    Jan 16th 2016, 10:18 AM

    ‘Political strategist – genius – shaper of the political landscape etc, etc,…..’

    So we have ‘Mara’ to thank for the stinking political culture ordinary citizens have had to endure for the last thirty years?

    Thanks a bunch – no doubt Dunphy will be tearing up on the Marian Finnucane show at some stage this week-end.

    Once again the political and media cosies are disappearing up their own asses – all pals together at the end of the day…..

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    Mute James Kelly
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:25 AM

    It would be nice to observe PJ Mara as a throwback to another era but he is not. His style, his tactics, his nudge nudge wink wink persona is still very much alive in the mainstream political parties where honest open transparent debate is to be closed down , scrutiny of waiting lists etc etc is not to be encouraged far less dealing with the myocardial of causes including of course self interest mainly in the medical and insurance sectors. Oh no, KENNY and his ilk need people like Mara as they are simply not up to the job themselves no matter how much native cunning and strokes they think they have in the locker room.
    RIP Mr Mara, you’re legacy is safe

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    Mute Donal O Neil
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    Jan 16th 2016, 3:13 PM

    They are cunning linguists

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:03 AM

    Much ado about very little – very uninspiring – like the current group of morons I suppose.

    15
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    Mute Pat Redmond
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    Jan 16th 2016, 10:38 AM

    Didn’t Fionnuala O’Kelly, aka Enda Kenny’s, wife, work for years with Meara and learnt from the master. Spot the similarities in strategy?

    Happy, clappy, photocalls : whatever you do say nothing much and keep smiling; hang out at international leader photo calls; stay out of controversies, leave the minister to bat, then let Enda sail in for victory when the government has to cave in; stay on message with rehearsed sound bites, no matter what’s put to you; give party opponents a busy portfolio but shaft them when there’s too much heat and it isn’t going away. At election time, promise taxpayer’s money to the loudest pressure group or key voter demographic at election time. And the leadership heave against Enda was handled with classic Haughey manoeuvres. Meara always acted the joker well. Mrs K stays in the shadows.

    FF PR is alive and well, just getting better and better at FG. Plus ca change. High five!

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:44 AM

    Mrs Kenny was Charlies Secretary.

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    Mute John Joseph McDermott
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    Jan 16th 2016, 10:55 AM

    And RTE this week carried the press release/threats from Irish Water that the citizens who have boycotted the charges will be hounded through the courts and judgements lodged against their properties.etc.
    How dare this gang in power continue to threaten half the nation because they think they have bought the other half with borrowed money and taxes.!
    RTE carried the “propaganda” that more than half their customers had paid.
    However as one third of their registered customers have private wells and a private supply; when this group are removed from the statistics/lies of Irish Water, then I believe that we will find out the real truth some day-that far less than 50% of the people who are being threatened have paid-or will pay.
    I hope the long grass will reveal an enormous number of angry people in the coming election.!

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Jan 17th 2016, 1:47 AM

    I met PJ in my mid teens in the kate 70s – He seemed to be a nice man, a character definately & was interested in the views of young people. A great operator without doubt – having to deal with contraversaries one after the other.

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