Foxrock village to get new lease of life from proposed car park

 

“The lack of parking spaces in Foxrock village has had a detrimental effect on the life and businesses of the village. The village has always suffered because of the shortage of car spaces. The added difficulties that have arisen as a result of the recession is forcing businesses to close and jobs to disappear. Already, a number of businesses have closed in the past few years. Three clothes shops, a delicatessen and a dentist’s practice have closed. This is five shops out of approximately twenty in Foxrock village that have closed. All the shops cited the lack of parking spaces as a major problem.

 

“After my election, the local Councillor Barry Saul brought this difficulty to my attention. Together, we arranged meetings between officials from Horse Racing Ireland, Leopardstown Racecourse and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in an attempt to progress the shelved plans to build a car park on the wasteland that was previously the Harcourt Street to Bray railway line.

 

“We are delighted that Horse Racing Ireland and Leopardstown Racecourse have now generously provided the Council with permission to proceed with a planning application for a car park on their land. The generous co-operative efforts of officials from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Leopardstown Racecourse and Horse Racing Ireland all contributed to this positive result which will benefit all the business at Foxrock village and their customers.

 

“It is hoped that the scheme will be ready for presentation to Councillors within three months for their approval to proceed to the public consultation stage. This will take another three months. Subject to planning approval and funding being made available, construction could begin by Christmas.

 

The local Councillor, Barry Saul said:

 

“This is huge progress on an issue that has been crippling Foxrock village for years. I am confident that Dun Laoghaire Rathdown will work to ensure the speedily delivery of this vital car park. In this current difficult environment it is vital that both the government and local council work to safeguard existing jobs and help local traders to create more local jobs. The traders in Foxrock have suffered long enough and I hope progress on this car park will help re vitalise Foxrock village”