Litir Chumhdaigh
On behalf of the residents of the Caislean na hAbhann estate and the wider the Groody Road community, we would like to highlight the need for investment in our area and community. Our area along the Groody Valley is at the outskirts of Castletroy and adjacent to outskirts of Limerick city. We are largely ignored even though our area is an important feeder community to the University and the technological park. With the new secondary school, hospital and Northern Trust site we have seen an increase in footfall, traffic and interest in a short space of time. A similar investment in the infrastructure, and facilities in the community is absolutely needed, which this Strategy Plan does not reflect. In fact a lot of features of the Castletroy Local Area Plan have been removed and we ask that they be included. Our submissions will highlight these in details.
The Castletroy area has increased significantly and consistently over the past number of years with approximately 15,000 people resident in 2016. The nearet Garda station that serves the Groody Road and the surrounding area is the Henry Street Garda Station which is 6 km away from the Groody Road. Our area is too far away from the station and call times are significant due to distance.
The Castletroy area as a whole needs a dedicated Garda Station with the large population and the increase in infrastructure in the area (Educate Together Secondary School, Private Hospital, and new companies like Edward LifeSciences, Northern Trust). We highly recommend that a Garda Station for the Castletroy Area be included in the Limerick Strategy Plan.
Build a separate Garda Station for the Castletroy Area
The trees along the Groody Road joining the Towerton area (Garryglass road/R527) to the Castletroy area (Plassey Park Rd/Dublin Rd) have become a main feature for the community and commuters to the area. These tress line either side of the road every 2-3 metres and form continuous line that are an attractive feature of the area. However, they have been cut down in recent years to accommodate bus stops, local businesses, the school site which has significantly decreased their impact. Furthermore, they have become neglected as has the surrounding footpaths and fences. Only have repeated requests have the council repaired and maintained the tress after years of neglect.
We request that these trees become a protected part of the Limerick area so that they can be properly cared for and can no longer be cut down, reducing their numbers.
Preserve and protect the trees along the Groody Road
As the Groody Road is a main link and feeder road for the Limerick Bypass to the University of Limerick and the surrounding technological parks, it is an important area for commuters to travel and stop. Furthermore, the estates adjacent to the Groody Centre have little to no access to local shops, amenities, restaurants and cafes. Investment and support is needed for the current 'Groody Neighbourhood Centre' which should be desginated a 'District Centre' for the Castletroy, or even the 'Groody Valley' area.
The current proposal of student accomodation at the Groody Valley site should include more amenties and cafe/restaurants for the area. Similar to what is proposed for the Towlerton area.
Designate the Groody Neighbourhood Centre as a District Centre
Need for more local amenities for the Groody Road/Valley area
With the significant increase in footfall, traffic, and housing from the proposed revitalisation of the Towlerton (TN01) and Groody Valley areas (GV01 CHAPTER 10), more facilities are needed along the Groody Road. For example, the nearest public playground or park is 6 km away (Castletroy Playground), and there is no community centre, GAA centre nearby. The Castletroy Local Area Plan called for the inclusion of a walkway within the Groody Valley Green Wedge, whcih is not present in the Limerick Strategy Plan.
We request that the plan include more in the 'Groody Valley' area than the student accomodation on the Dublin Road (SCSI O1). This should incorporate more facilities and amenities such as a large public playground, community centre, a walkway connected the Groody Valley Green Wedge, and/or sports grounds. Already there is a significant increase in the infrastructure in our area (Groody Road, secondary school and hospital) withe little in the way of facilities for the local community.
Include more facilities and amenities within the planned 'Groody Valley' (GV01) revitalisation plan
Increase in population due to the new Secondary School and Private Hospital
Prior to COVID-19 the traffic on the Groody Road was unmanageable as it is a main link between the Limerick Bypass and the University of Limerick and surrounding technological park. Since then a Secondary School (planning file 191061) and Private Hospital have been granted permission along this road as well as opening of the new Bloodmill Road-Groody Road link (19546). In the traffic assessments for planning applicaitons for these sites the increased traffic on the road was mentioned and highlighted to be a significant problem calling for further investment. Even with the opening of the Groody Road-School House Road link, the increase in traffic will cause the road to become gridlocked at all times of the day. This will make entering and exiting our own estates near impossible.
We request that the Strategy Plan listen to the recommendations of these traffic reports on the Groody Road and the adjacent roads (R527 and M7 Junction 29) and implement them as a matter of urgency as the COVID-19 restrictions lift and the traffic volumes return to normal, and beyond. We request immediate investment in the road and surrounding roads to alleviate the traffic volume.
Further, the installation of cycle paths, albeit welcome, does not solve this problem as the uptake of cyclying in the area is not significant and further congest the Groody Road.
Immediate implementation of traffic assessments of the Groody Road
The opening of a Private Hospital and Secondary School is going to put further demand and stress on the already congested traffic on the M7 junction 29, R527, and the Groody Road.
We request the immediate implementation of the School House to Groody Road link, this has been delayed for nearly a decade and nothing has been done. With the increase in local infrastructure (Secondary School and Private Hospital) and the increase in traffic it is imperative that this link road begin immediately.
We request that this road begin to link these two roads and alleviate the traffic along the Groody Road. We also request that this road take into account the protected structure adjacent (Mary Magdalene's Well) and invest in highlighting this old and historic feature of the locality. As it is the first known Holy Well of Limerick it should be given some maintenance and repair as part of this new link road.
Immediate implementation of the Groody Road to School House Road link.
Long delays already and increased infrastructure and traffic
With the rapid expansion of the population in the Castletroy, specifically the Groody Valley area, we are in desperate need of more Primary Schools. For example, estates along the Groody Road are within the catchment area of the Monaleen Primary School which already serves a large area of Casltletroy.
We are in a desperate need for the a new Primary school to accomodate the growing numbers. Inaccordance to objective SCSI O10, we request that the primary school that is planned along the School House-Groody Road link to be fast tracked and implemented as soon as possible within this Limerick Strategy Plan.
Build a primary school that serves the Groody Valley/Castletroy area
Increased population and demand