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Dublincity.ie

Dublin city residents concerned Google's planned rooftop pitch will be 'nuisance' for them

Google is planning to have the playing pitch on the roof terrace of the Boland’s Mill development.

A GROUP OF Dublin city residents have expressed concerns that an open-roof terrace sports facility planned by Google at its Boland’s Mill development will create a nuisance for them.

Work is continuing on Google’s €300 million development at Boland’s Mill where 1,300 people are to be employed.

As part of a bid to create a more active and healthy work environment for its employees, Google Ireland has lodged plans for a five a side like playing pitch on the roof terrace of floor five of Tower Two of the development.

Google is planning to have the playing pitch enclosed in a steel frame with net surrounding and overhead in order to prevent any footballs landing on the street below from stray shots.

However, in a submission to Dublin City Council on behalf of Shelbourne Park Residents Association, its planning officer, Billy Ryan has claimed that excessive noise from the sports facility will cause a nuisance to residents.

Ryan also expresses concern that events to be held at night time at the sports facility will impinge on the peace and privacy of the people who live in the houses opposite and other nearby streets and houses.

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Ryan said that residents are also concerned over the bright light from the overhead lighting system of the sports facility spilling out onto Barrow Street and the houses opposite.

The planning officer said that Barrow Street at the moment “is one big construction site with all that entails for local residents”.

However, Google Ireland has submitted an obtrusive light study and a roof terrace noise assessment as part of the application.

The noise assessment concludes that a review of the predicted changes in ambient noise levels conclude that they are not significant in the context of the existing noise environment.

The light study states that the lighting scheme to illuminate the sports pitch at the terrace level applies a lower illuminance than typical for exterior sports lighting scheme and this was done with a view to reducing obtrusive light on the surroundings.

Planning consultant for Google Ireland, John Spain states that the sports facility will be managed through a booking system with daily events being hosted by “the sports team”.

Spain states:

The proposed design of the sports enclosure has been carefully considered in terms of noise impact and visual impact on the surrounding dwellings.

Spain argues that with the mitigation measures in place the development will not impact on the amenity enjoyed by the surrounding residents.

A decision is due by Dublin City Council on the application next month.

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    Mute Jesus Christ
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    Sep 27th 2019, 9:36 PM

    So the residents who live beside a very busy floodlit greyhound stadium are complaining about a enclosed rooftop 5-a-side foot ball pitch.

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Sep 28th 2019, 12:40 PM

    @Jesus Christ: on top of that’s there’s an Astro turf pitch for local use at south dock street.

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    Mute James Gorman #FBPE
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    Sep 27th 2019, 9:19 PM

    A shakedown in other words. Give us money and we will withdraw it.

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    Mute Mary's Abbey
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    Sep 28th 2019, 9:02 AM

    @James Gorman #FBPE: Citizens have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their homes; no amount of money can compensate for the loss of established rights, The planning process allows those likely to be negatively affected by proposed developments a means to express their concerns and to have their interests taken into consideration, especially if they feel the proposal would harm their residential amenities. The residents are participating in the democratic process. Know-alls like smearing them based only on your own ignorance are disgusting.

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    Mute Jennifer Hampson
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    Oct 4th 2019, 6:19 PM

    @Mary’s Abbey: Mary, they live in the city and directly beside a 7 day a week greyhound stadium. It is a shakedown

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    Mute Martin Woods
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    Sep 27th 2019, 9:34 PM

    Pay me pay me now

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    Mute Kathleen Quinn
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    Sep 27th 2019, 10:51 PM

    Nonesense, we need more parks and gardens in the city..use rooftop space!!

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    Mute martobaby
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    Sep 27th 2019, 9:52 PM

    My God .. first world problems !

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    Mute Bull McCabe
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    Sep 27th 2019, 9:23 PM

    And if you lived beside a school or playground it wouldn’t be so bad.

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Sep 28th 2019, 1:10 AM

    A football pitch on top of Bolands?
    That really takes the biscuit!
    :-)

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    Mute Robc
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    Sep 28th 2019, 1:27 AM

    @David Van-Standen: that’s a cracker

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    Mute ℝ
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    Sep 28th 2019, 12:16 AM

    Utter Nimbyism. If it was a 24x7x365 facility it might be a legit case. It’ll be used moderately in evening times. And Flood lighting systems nowadays can ensure almost zero light overflow even in residential areas….

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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Sep 27th 2019, 10:08 PM

    Just give all their little darlings with Russian and History degrees an internship. That should sort it!

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    Mute Micheal Anthony Moran
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    Sep 28th 2019, 8:23 AM

    I live just down the road from rooftop pitch on Belvedere college and never hear it. I do hear the playground of scoil Mhuire at the back of parnell square it doesn’t disturb me. The biggest annoyance from the point of view of noise pollution is car and premise alarms going off at the weekends.

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    Mute Conor Veron
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    Sep 28th 2019, 10:55 AM

    If you live in a Major City. ..EXPECT NOISE. !!!!

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    Mute Mary's Abbey
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    Sep 28th 2019, 4:10 PM

    @Conor Veron: Noise is a pollutant; the established principle is the polluter has the responsibility to control it. Similar to how you have to look after your litter. When granting planning permission, the local authority has the power to provide conditions about noise prevention, or reduction is included in the grant. That is what the residents are hoping to achieve, Great to see residents having the courage to take on the legal representatives hired by this large company.

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    Mute thesaltyurchin
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    Sep 28th 2019, 1:31 PM

    Ireland: No we cant

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    Mute Paul Dooley
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    Sep 28th 2019, 1:30 PM

    Given his overall contribution too the beautiful game John Delaney will open the pitch

    For tickets contact pHickey

    All proceeds to go charity so they do

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    Mute ken gray
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    Sep 29th 2019, 10:17 PM

    The local unemployed inner city skanks generations of them object to every decent thing decent people propose ! Free house deal gear never work intimidate decent people it going on generations !

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