HIGH COURT CHALLENGE OVER LAKESIDE TRACK
A HIGH COURT challenge has been launched against Wicklow County Council’s decision to allow a track for pedestrians and cyclists be developed around Blessington Lakes.
The action has been brought by local resident Brian Kingham and Blessington Sailing Club on grounds including that the council’s decision to give the track the go-ahead breaches EU requirements to carry out an Appropriate Assessment of the proposed development.
In their action they seek a High Court order quashing the council’s decision of July 3, 2017, which allows a new track, made of crushed stone, be constructed on a route following the shoreline of the Blessington Lakes.
The proposed track will include some 100 new culverts, 18 bridges over larger streams and fencing and some minor landscaping will be required. The permission also allows for the upgrading of existing tracks around the lake.
Those works will include the excavation of a track, laying of geotextile membrane with a surface layer comprised of crushed limestone.
The applicants, represented in court by Michael O’Donnell Bl, seek declarations including that the council did not comply with their obligations under the 2000 Planning and Development Act.
They also seek a declaration that the council failed to apply the appropriate test under the EU Habitats Directive.
They further seek declarations that the proposed development involves a material controvention of the Wicklow Development Plan.
Permission to bring the challenge was granted on an ex parte basis, where only one side was present in court, by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan.
The judge made the action returnable to a date in December. TWENTY-THREE year old Jade Morrissey, from Gortlum, Brittas, had a fine evening’s work last weekend as she motored away from RTE Studios in Dublin after winning €27,000 including a brand new Toyota Yaris on the television gameshow Winning Streak. The lucky ticket was bought in Maxol Service Station, Blessington.
It has been a busy year for Jade, who has only recently returned to Ireland after living in Toronto with her boyfriend, Nick Russell, for eight months. She surprised her family and came home on her birthday. She said ‘Living abroad was a great experience but we were homesick.’
The eldest of seven children, Jade is very clear where the bulk of her Winning Streak prize will go.
‘My Mam, Tanya has done an amazing job rearing us all, and she gave me the Winning Streak ticket as a birthday present. She is very special and we owe her so much. I will treat her to a big holiday, or whatever she wants!’
Jade is now working for a local auction agency and lives with her grandmother and grandad, Ruth and John Farrell.
She had huge support in the audience on Saturday evening who included Nick, her six siblings, her Mum, her step Dad, her grandparents, and 87-year-old great aunt, Mary Adger.