AN BORD Pleanála is to review a decision by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to build a car park on what was a circus field in Booterstown, south Dublin.
The development had angered local residents, who had claimed water birds at nearby Williamstown Creek could be threatened by the work. Williamstown Creek was designated a special protected area under EU law.
Historically, the site, which is zoned for open space and amenity, had been used by visiting circuses.
Work on the site began shortly before Christmas. A car park was constructed and associated land drainage work was carried out. The site is to be used as an overflow car park for the nearby Dart station.
In a report to be considered by the council tonight, county manager Owen Keegan said work on the circus field was exempted development because it was under the threshold value of €126,000 laid down in planning legislation. It therefore did not need planning permission, he said.
He also said the work carried out did not contravene the council’s county development plan. And he said Iarnród Éireann had said their co-operation with a project in Dún Laoghaire is contingent on their use of the circus field as a car park.
He has recommended that councillors accept the development.
However, former Progressive Democrats councillor Victor Boyhan is hoping councillors will defer their decision on the circus field until a Bord Pleanála report is completed.
He has petitioned the planning board to carry out a review of the development. The board has 18 weeks to carry out the review.
Mr Boyhan said he believed the work carried out was not exempted development, in part because the council plans to introduce a pay-and-display service.
