Green Party Senator and European candidate for Dublin, Deirdre De Burca, has opposed a decision by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to build a car park in a field in Booterstown near a conservation area.

The planned site, once used as a circus field, will now become an overflow car park for the Booterstown dart station. Local residents have already voiced concern over the plans.

The site is in close proximity to Williamstown Creek, a conservation area that houses a number of rare water birds. The Creek was designated a special protected area under the EU law Natura 2000.

Senator De Burca said, “I support the activities of local Green Party councillor, Rory Holohan, in opposing this car-park. In May 2008, the Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, designated the South Dublin Bay and River Tolka Estuary as a Special Protection Area. The Booterstown Bird Sanctuary at Williamstown Creek lies within this Special Protection Area.

“The EU Birds directive requires that EU states classify Special Protection Areas and take measures to conserve all naturally occurring bird species. The Birds Directive is the EU’s oldest piece of nature legislation and one of the most important.

“The work being carried out by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council is in direct contravention of the Directive because it could threaten the birds’ natural habitat. The car park will have room for 150 vehicles which will drastically raise air and noise pollution in the area. There is also a risk that rubbish from commuters will end up in the conservation area.

“I, and my colleague Cllr Holohan, urge the Council to reconsider their plans and recognise that the safety of local wildlife should be their priority,” added Senator De Burca.

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Dublin by Deirdre