Plans for a controversial €19m visitor centre in the Dublin Mountains will have to be put on hold as opponents of the project have initiated a legal challenge against the development.
Save the Hellfire Club, an umbrella group of resident and community groups campaigning against the proposed tourist facility at the foot of the iconic Rathfarnham location, hope the move will bring a halt to a project which they claim will spoil the natural landscape of the area.
The group together with Hellfire Massy Residents Association has lodged papers in the High Court to seek a judicial review of the recent decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the development of the “gateway” visitor centre which is a joint project between South Dublin County Council, Coillte and the Dublin Mountains Partnership.
Plans to develop the new tourist facility have already faced considerable delay as An Bord Pleanála sought further information from its promoters on three different occasions because of concerns about its potential impact on the local environment.
The controversial centre includes a 75-seater café, shop, toilets, changing facilities, a walkers’ lounge, exhibition space and education centre including a 50-seater auditorium.
Another feature, which has been sharply criticised by opponents, is a treetop canopy walk over the Kilakee Road connecting the centre with Massy’s Wood – another popular walking area in the vicinity.
Opponents of the project dispute claims by its promoters that a three-fold increase in visitor numbers to the Hellfire Club would not result in significantly more numbers accessing other nearby protected habitats with a negative impact on local wildlife and fauna.
A spokesperson for Save the Hellfire Club said the group had taken legal advice and the only option “to overturn the irrational decision” was to seek a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála’s ruling.
Appealing for donations from the public to assist with the cost of the legal challenge, the spokesperson said: “This is a huge undertaking but it is essential if we are to stop South Dublin County Council.”
The group said it was encouraged by the massive support it had received from residents associations and community groups in the area with over 23,000 people signing an online petition objecting to the project.
It is understood the grounds for a legal challenge to the board’s ruling will centre on its rejection of the recommendation of its own inspector that it could not be satisfied that the visitor centre would not have an adverse effect on protected EU habitats in the area without carrying out a Natura Impact Statement.
Although the inspector found in favour of the visitor centre in principle, she observed: ““There remains scientific doubt that there would be no adverse effects.”
As a consequence she claimed that the board was precluded from granting planning permission for the centre.
The inspector also said she had “significant concerns with the impact of the project on biodiversity” in relation to habitats and species.
An Bord Pleanála said it regarded the plans as acceptable and supportive of the aim of encouraging greater access to the Dublin Mountains.
It said it considered the visitor centre, subject to a number of planning conditions, would not adversely affect the environment or amenities of the area.
The board said the proposed development was also respectful of the existing character of the Hellfire Club and was acceptable in relation to traffic and pedestrian safety – two other key concerns of objectors.
The case is listed for a hearing in the High Court in November 2020.
