#NoBarriersToBlanch Petition ✍🏼

Hiya Folks,

Hope this post is alright. Just wanted to share the petition started in order to try get to 10K signatures.

Petition: Change.org/NoBarriersToBlanch ✍🏼

As you might know Blanche Retail Nominee Limited (Via Strategic Value Partners), who also own APCOA have been granted planning permission in Blanchardstown to install for-profit barrier controlled paid parking. This is problematic for a few reasons, hopefully I’ll be able to explain the rationale a bit more;

1. Civic & Community Resources 🏛️ 🏥 We have the Fingal Offices, The Library, Draíocht, Medical Facilities etc that has always been open access, particularly for those who need it most. It drives people to the centre and commercially that is mutually beneficial system. The plan will ultimately shut that down as the stage of planning which they’ve currently got gives them basically a blank cheque without restriction or notice of how fees are imposed, who is managing it, caps, etc. These facilities fundamentally change the centre from being a retail outlet to a retail, cultural and civic amenities site. The purpose is completely different to some other centres in Dublin.

2. Tax on Workers 🛒 🛍️ One of the reasons I’m cautious with the “stop shopping there” line is because we saw what happens when businesses lose out, the first ones out the door are the staff, usually the ones of minimum wage. The bottom line is that workers are going to be inadvertently taxed to come to work. They received a letter stating they’ll have a “reduced rate” but that doesn’t outline anything when they could be there for 12 hours on a busy day. This is also on the foot of a massive cost of living crisis.

3. Local Environmental Impact 🌳☠️ There’s big concern in terms of run off, what car idling and toll queuing will do in term of air quality. There’s also no justification provided as to why 347 trees (almost 500 in total) are going to be felled outside of “car park enhancement”. This goes directly against Fingal’s own strategies. Their own arboricultural assessment also acknowledged huge negative impacts on birdlife in the local area. Additionally, their lighting will be increasing in intensity which will cause light pollution further impacting flight paths of bats (although they allege that despite a densely wooded area behind the centre and a 2017 report stating bats were in the area, they say bats aren’t there) and nocturnal species. That’s our local wildlife and biodiversity that’s being impacted which can’t happen. The species of trees they’re proposing to plant are non native ornamentals, best practice is to plant native trees as we don’t know what effect on local biomes the others will have because they’ve not done a report on that either.

4. Local Residential Overspill 🚙 🚘 🚗 Not once has this been raised in their reports nor mitigating measures, but Whitestown, Sheepmoor, Blakestown, Fortlawn and Hartstown will all bare the brunt of overspill for short duration parking, this is referenced in multiple areas of the country, including in observations Swords (Fingal’s own area), Multiple references in south dub county council, and even UK councils. Even though a traffic consultant would be first to point out this. Whitestown in particular are going to struggle here, because they’ve also applied to work outside of normal trade hours using the Mr Price car park as the material deposit site which will cause major disruptions to them throughout the construction period. No meaningful consultation has occurred with them either.

5. Poor Public Transport Connections 🚌 🚊 🚆 There are parts of Blanchardstown that are completely locked off from the centre unless you drive. This is drastically one of the biggest issues in comparison to a lot of other shopping centres. We simply don’t have public transport links that allow people to the shops unless they drive. Otherwise you could be looking at up to an hour’s walk or more in some cases. Which isn’t viable for those who are pensioners, parents with young kids, people wanting to do their weekly shop, or anyone with a mobility issue or disability.

6. Due Process not Followed 📊📄📋 I don’t believe due process has been followed which is why we’re making appeals on this currently. Particularly where there has been several omissions of reports, the initial planning proposal was materially different to what the goal was, no meaningful consultation due to the sheer level of people this will affect (100,000++). A disproportionate amount of kicking the can down the road reporting which will come only after granting permission which, in my opinion is not correct due to the Planning Authority not being having or furnished with all the correct reports to make an informed decision.

So, that’s the bones of it among other issues, but basically we’re trying to spread the word about the petition, we want to get it to 10K signatures, so if you wouldn’t mind sharing the link around with a few of your groups we’d really appreciate it 🫶🏼

Thank you and #NoBarriersToBlanch 🙏🏼