Planning permission for the new velodrome in west Dublin has been stalled as planners in Fingal County Council have rejected some aspects of the plan as "not acceptable" and have sought revised proposals for some parts of the project while more information has now been requested on other details. The current plans for a cycleway leading to the venue have been rejected, with revised plans for those lanes - and for improved bike parking - now being sought.
The application includes a request for 2,500 temporary seats - to be added to the 1,000-person permanent seating - from time to time so that a crowd of 3,500 spectators could gather for other sports events, that do not involve the sports of cycling or badminton which will share the venue. The planners have raised questions about these plans.
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In a development by no means unusual for large projects in the planning phase, the council wants to know more about what these other events will be, and how often they will be held, as well as the noise and other "impacts" they generate. "Details of such events have not been provided," the council's planning decision says of the planning application, which is by Sport Ireland.
A number of revised plans for various aspects of the velodrome project - on the Abbottstown Sports Campus in Blanchardstown - are requested and it was unclear how long these would take to formulate. It was also unclear how long it would take for the revised plans and additional information to go back before the Fingal County Council planners and for a decision to be reached.
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Sport Ireland said it was common for more information and revisions to be sought for large-scale projects like the proposed velodrome. Cycling Ireland said it was "delighted" the project was now in the planning phase. Stickybottle will bring more reaction from both bodies later.
The planning decision seeking more information and some revised plans was arrived at one month ago but details had not emerged before today. It says the "proposed dedicated pedestrian and cycle route" in the plans "would not be considered dedicated direct pedestrian and cycle connectivity". This was because it would be "shared with traffic on the days that there would be significant vehicular access".
The decision adds "the nature of proposed cycle parking facilities are not acceptable" as long term covered and secure cycle parking facilities were required to accommodate those traveling on "tricycles, cargo bikes and adapted bikes". Scooter lockers and bike charging points and repair stations should also be provided, the decision adds.
The council also said a "cycle parking hub or a shared cycle parking facility" with the National Indoor Arena, also on the Abbottstown sports campus, "should be identified". Furthermore, motorcycle parking should be provided and elevation drawings provided of the "proposed covered and secured parking structure to serve employee cycle parking".
The council has also requested drawings for a tree survey at the site as well as proposals for a revised route for the proposed Irish Water connection on one area of the site so it avoids "the root protection area" of the trees located there.
