Campaigners have vowed to bring a legal challenge against a decision by Fingal County Council to approve planning for a forest adventure facility in the woodlands of the Malahide Demesne in Co Dublin.
The development is to include a car park extension as well as the installation of tree-top zip-lines in a five-hectare area of the demesne.
Councillors approved the controversial proposal by 18 votes to 16 at a meeting in July.
Fingal said it aims to start procurement for the project later this year and hopes to have the facility up and running in the latter half of 2017.
But the proposal has met strong local opposition, with campaigners saying it will involve the destruction of forestry near Malahide castle.
They also argue the demesne has already become overly commercialised with a number of private companies operating in the area.
Petition
Earlier this month, the Save Malahide Castle and Woodland group handed a petition of 3,284 signatures as well as 962 signed postcards to the council.
The group also held a picnic in opposition to the proposal which, organisers say, attracted 700 people.
The campaigners had hoped the public opposition would make the council back down from the proposal, citing the example of Cabinteely Park, where Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council suspended plans for a zip-wire course in 2013 following local opposition.
But Fingal remains committed to the adventure park, saying it will enhance Malahide’s attraction to domestic and international visitors.
Local councillor Anthony Lavin said he also supported the proposal because the town would benefit from the additional parking capacity it would bring.
Legal challenge
Opponents of the plans have eight weeks from the time of the council’s decision to seek a judicial review of the proposal – meaning a legal challenge will have to be lodged by the first week of September.
Save Malahide Castle and Woodland campaigner Noel Mahon said the group wanted to change the council’s mind but it is looking more like the legal approach will be their only option.
“The gun is being put to our head,” he said.
Although the council said it has gone through the proper planning process, Mr Mahon said Fingal failed to consult adequately with the public and is seeking to push the project through “in defiance of thousands of people”.
But yesterday Fingal said it has since carried out an internal review and was “satisfied that the public consultation for the proposal was comprehensive”.
