Courts / Wicklow / Report

Challenge over development of pedestrian and cycle track around Blessington lakes

Summary

A high court challenge has been launched by local resident Brian Kingham and Blessington Sailing Club against Wicklow County Council's decision to allow a pedestrian and cycle track around Blessington Lakes. The challenge argues that the council's approval on 3 July 2017 breaches EU requirements for an Appropriate Assessment and fails to meet obligations under the 2000 Planning and Development Act and the EU Habitats Directive. The proposed track, made of crushed stone, would follow the lakeshore and include about 100 new culverts, 18 bridges over larger streams, fencing and minor landscaping. It would also upgrade existing tracks, involving excavation, geotextile membrane installation and a crushed limestone surface layer. The applicants, represented by Michael O'Donnell Bl, seek declarations that the council did not comply with the required assessments and that the development materially contravenes the Wicklow Development Plan. Permission to bring the challenge was granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who set a return date for December.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Challenge over development of pedestrian and cycle track around Blessington lakes. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• July 3rd 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-10-23 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

Related court reports

• Seven years for sex offender who repeatedly recorded himself assaulting sleeping woman
• Thief caught with lump hammer, screwdriver and gloves
• Teen awarded €90k for obstacle course injury
• Criminal who used weapons in city centre robberies jailed for six years
• Burglar fails in appeal after judge notes he's 'been around the block'
• Fake barrister who scammed 1,200 people with bogus firms gets six years

Read the original CNI report