Plans to transform Lansdowne Road rugby ground into a large €350 million multi-use stadium may maximise turnover for the developers, but it will have a significant impact on the lives of local residents and on a public amenity walkway by the Dodder river, the second day of an An Bord Pleanála hearing was told.
Local resident and Green Party TD John Gormley told the public hearing into the development in Dublin 4 that he was in favour of the redevelopment of the stadium in principle as a more sustainable option than building on a remote greenfield site.
But the planned "intensification of use" of the stadium, to include conference and banqueting facilities and more frequent concerts and sporting events, would affect local residents and traffic in the area.
"Although the provision of these facilities may help the applicant to balance its bottom line . . . the board must consider whether a major conference facility is needed in the area. I would submit that this area is already served by such facilities," he said.
Calling for the provision of secure bicycle parking at the stadium and cycle routes leading to it to reduce congestion, Mr Gormley also said the objectives of the city development plan would be "fatally prejudiced" by allowing the stadium development to incorporate a section of a walkway on the Dodder.
Joe Taylor, of the Irishtown village residents' group, said the Dodder walkway was a "relatively small strip of land" which was not owned by the developer, the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company.
Yet the company wanted to "annex" the walkway for its own use, requiring the cutting down of almost 200 trees. He suggested that perhaps it needed a "rare snail" to be discovered for it to be protected. "Its flora and fauna seem to be of little interest to the developers," he said.
Yesterday afternoon, the hearing also heard claims that an agreement between Lansdowne Rugby Football Club and the IRFU relating to the development represented the "very definition of a sweetheart deal".
Rory Mulcahy, representing four residents of two houses at Lansdowne Road, circulated a document which purports to outline details of the agreement.
This includes a new clubhouse for the rugby club, full compensation (for loss of revenue), and a "spectacular supply" of match tickets, he said. Yet his clients who live in the area had not been shown such consideration.
Earlier, planning inspector and chair of the hearing Brendan Wyse told how he had visited a house at O'Connell Gardens as part of his background work.
However, the owner of the house, Sophia Wallace, told those present yesterday that she had believed the visit to be confidential. "You have put me in a very compromising and embarrassing situation," she said.
Mr Wyse said he regretted any distress his comments had caused to her, but said it had never been his intention that the visit would remain confidential.