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With the local elections taking place on the 7th of June, it’s important as a community we use our vote to protect our precious Greenbelt.

Councillor Support

5 of the 7 Swords Councillors actively supported the campaign to save the Greenbelt.

In addition, the vast majority of people in Swords supported saving the Greenbelt and opposed rezoning.

Despite this, Cllr. Brigid Manton (Fianna Fail) and Cllr. Darragh Butler (Fianna Fail) put forward motions calling for two Greenbelts to be rezoned (Rivervalley, Ridgewood, Ashfield and Knocksedan Greenbelt and Uniplumo Greenbelt, Rathbeale Road).

Social Democrats (no Councillor in Swords) gave FULL SUPPORT to the campaign, as did Solidarity – People Before Profit (no Councillor in Swords).

Unfortunately, Fine Gael (no Councillor in Swords) provided NO SUPPORT to the campaign and have voted to rezone Greenbelts in the past. 

Please see more details below;

Impact of Rezoning

Rezoning our Greenbelt would lead to;

• environmental destruction, loss of biodiversity and pollution of already overdeveloped communities as the climate change crisis worsens
• four large estates merging (three existing and one new) into one concrete urban sprawl, including new roads through existing estates. Rivervalley, Ridgewood, Ashfield and Knocksedan would cease to exist as distinct communities.
• loss of the vital Uniplumo Greenbelt on the Rathbeale Road
• traffic chaos, gridlock, health and safety risks, especially for children
• unsustainable pressure on vital local services e.g. schools, healthcare, transport and social amenities

Large Surplus of Zoned Land

We realize there is a housing crisis. However, there is already a large surplus of residentially zoned land in Swords to cope with its planned growth. This has been confirmed by Fingal County Council’s CEO AnnMarie Farrelly and Council Planners. The solution is to build affordable houses on this land, not destroy a valuable Greenbelt.

Our Community

329 submissions were made by residents during the current (2023-2029) Development Plan consultation process (the largest number of submissions on any single issue) asking for the Greenbelt to be retained. Submissions were made by residents, community groups and Cllrs. In contrast 2 submissions asked for the Greenbelt to be rezoned.

This means 99.4% of our community want the Greenbelt protected.

In addition, over 2,500 residents (or 93%+ surveyed) signed a petition asking for the Greenbelt to be protected. 

How Can You Help?

Please make your vote count on the 7th June and help protect our precious Greenbelt for now and future generations. Please share this information with your friends and family. Please encourage them to vote and save the Greenbelt too. 

Thank you…

Some great news to share with the community…!

Both Greenbelts in Swords have been saved. 

An attempt by Cllr. Brigid Manton and Cllr. Darragh Butler to rezone the Brackenstown (Rivervalley, Ridgewood, Ashfield and Knocksedan) and Uniplumo (Rathbeale Road) Greenbelts respectively was firmly opposed by a majority of Cllrs who spoke against each motion.

The Fingal Executive also urged rejection of Cllr. Manton’s and Cllr. Butler’s motions aimed at rezoning our precious Greenbelts. In addition, they confirmed there is a surplus of residential-zoned land in Fingal. 

These rezoning attempts by both Cllrs. faced mass opposition from our community. It is a lesson that when we organise as a community we can bring in real change. 

Our aim from the outset was to create a clean, safe and sustainable community for this generation (especially for our children) and the generation to come. 

Many of the Cllrs. who spoke praised our campaign and said it was a great example of people power and local democracy in action. 

Thank you to everyone who supported the campaign. 

Special mention to the 5 Swords Cllrs. who actively supported Save Swords Greenbelt from the start. 

They listened to the wishes of our community and championed the communities cause. They are; Cllr. Joe Newman (Indpt), Cllr. Ann Graves (Sinn Fein), Cllr. Ian Carey (Green Party), Cllr. James Humphreys (Labour Party) and Cllr. Dean Mulligan (Indpts4Change).

The campaign will remain active and continue to grow. We urge all of the community to get involved in the campaign and protect our precious Greenbelts.

It’s expected Motion 535 will be voted on tomorrow, Tuesday 11th.

If passed, we lose the Greenbelt forever.

We’re planning to meet outside Fingal County Council, Main Street, Swords, Tuesday 11th at 2 pm. We will have the campaign banner and will be handing out leaflets to the 40 Cllrs. urging them to oppose Motion 535.

Please make a special effort to join us, and ask your friends and family to invest just 1 hour in saving the Greenbelt. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever and our community will be left counting the cost. Not just this generation, but generations to come.

All of us, especially our children deserve to grow up in a healthy, safe and sustainable community. Fingal CEO AnnMarie Farrelly has already confirmed there is enough land already zoned residential to cope with anticipated demand. Destroying a vital Greenbelt as the climate change crisis gets worse makes no sense.

If you can make it, please confirm by sending us an email or if you have any questions contact us;

saveswordsgreenbelt@gmail.com

It’s expected Motion 535 will be voted on next Tuesday 11th.

If passed, we lose the Greenbelt forever.

We’re planning to meet outside Fingal County Council, Main Street, Swords next Tuesday 11th at 2 pm. We will have the campaign banner and will be handing out leaflets to the 40 Cllrs. urging them to oppose Motion 535.

Please make a special effort to join us, and ask your friends and family to invest just 1 hour in saving the Greenbelt. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever and our community will be left counting the cost. Not just this generation, but generations to come.

All of us, especially our children deserve to grow up in a healthy, safe and sustainable community. Fingal CEO AnnMarie Farrelly has already confirmed there is enough land already zoned residential to cope with anticipated demand. Destroying a vital Greenbelt as the climate change crisis gets worse makes no sense.

If you can make it, please confirm by sending us an email or if you have any questions contact us;

saveswordsgreenbelt@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you on the 11th.

Again a big thank you to everyone who has signed and shared the petition. We’ve surpassed the 2,500 mark!

We’ve canvassed all of the communities affected by Motion 535. This includes; Rivervalley, Ridgewood, Ashfield and Knocksedan. The vast majority of residents support the Greenbelt’s protection.

Most recently we spoke with residents in Knocksedan. Of the 250 residents we met, 223 signed the petition (…or 89%) opposing Motion: 535 and supported the retention and protection of the Greenbelt.

95% of the residents we spoke to in Knocksedan were unaware that Motion: 535 had been put forward. Clearly, there had been no prior consultation with them beforehand.

This pattern is repeated in the other estates mentioned above, with even higher support for the Greenbelt (93%+).

It’s obvious there is mass opposition to Motion 535 tabled by Cllr. Manton under the Fingal Development Plan. There is no mandate for this motion and it should be withdrawn immediately.

Cllrs. are due to vote on Motion 535 in the next few days, so please act now before it’s too late.

Want to help campaign? Find out how….

Community frustration is turning to anger, in response to Cllr. Manton’s latest email reply to residents.

Residents who had contacted the campaign have said Cllr. Manton’s reply was “condescending”, “patronising” and “dismissive”.

In addition, the Cllr’s email contains a number of inaccuracies which we’ve responded to below (Cllr’s initial email is in bold).

Just to put things in perspective here. I am in favour of the green necklace around Swords. The area in question however is not a greenbelt. It is actually privately owned land that is not for sale. Greenbelt does not equate to green space.

The Greenbelt, which the Cllr is trying to rezone is a key part of the green necklace. You can’t rezone the Greenbelt & support the green necklace at the same time. It’s contradictory!

The land in question is a Greenbelt. This is confirmed in the Fingal Development Plan/Maps Draft Sheet 8 – Swords;

https://www.fingal.ie/sites/default/files/2022-03/new-draft_sheet-8-swords.pdf

The following is the definition of a greenbelt: Greenbelt” is a general term that refers to natural, undeveloped, and/or agricultural lands that surround urban areas. These lands may include open spaces, parks, farms and ranches, wildlands, or a combination thereof—as designated by cities, counties, special districts, and other jurisdictions. 

There is a greenbelt area across the road from Knocksedan. On that greenbelt, there is everything from packaging companies to large lorries to helicopters to bouncy castles.

This is incorrect. You cannot build on a Greenbelt. The general rule of thumb with Greenbelt land is that any and all building developments are prohibited unless they are covered by exceptions in government policy. The main exceptions are for agricultural and forestry buildings, some outdoor sports facilities and extensions or replacements of existing buildings.

Greenbelt allows for a whole load of ad hoc matter including caravans. During the last two years, we have had hundreds of caravans move onto two different sites in Holywell and it was a huge ordeal to have them removed and back to where they came from.

The Cllr. shouldn’t use the Traveller community as a scaremongering tactic to frighten our community.

The man who owns this land has donated huge amounts of land to the community and is prepared to give more along with playing fields to the community. I put this motion forward because I believe that it’s worthwhile having the conversation to get the best we can for our community.

The land doesn’t have to be rezoned in order for the landowner to donate land to the community or to discuss transferring a portion of the land to the Council as a public amenity.

The Cllr’s motion calls for a “conversation”. We’ve already had a conversation through the official channel, the Fingal Draft Development Plan Public Consultation process, where 99.4% (329 v 2 submissions) of Swords residents called for the Greenbelt retained and protected. This is the official and democratic process, followed by residents. We ask the Cllr. again, to acknowledge and honour this decision by the community.

I suggest you go on google and look at what is zoned greenbelt across the road from Knocksedan and then tell me that that is what we want to leave ourselves open to.

See the note above re the definition of “greenbelt”.

On a personal note, I love Swords. I played in this area as a child and have many memories of being terrified of being caught by the farmers who owned it. It is an absolute joy for me to see this area come into public ownership. However, we cannot achieve anymore without working with the people who actually own what we are looking for.

We love Swords also. The best way for the Cllr. to demonstrate this is to respect our community’s wishes and protect our precious Greenbelt, for now, and for the generation to come. 

2000+ residents have already signed an ongoing petition supporting this request.

I hope this may give you some further insight as to why this motion was submitted.

Unfortunately, Cllr. Manton’s reply doesn’t reflect the best interests of our community. Again, we ask the Cllr. to withdraw Motion 535.

Rezoning a Greenbelt creates a dangerous precedent, by putting all Greenbelt at risk of future rezoning. 

Rezoning should take place based on strategic need & suitable location and not driven by random offers of land “donations”. If this model was adopted it would signal a return to the “bad old days”, a chaotic and failed policy of ad hoc planning versus sustainable community building advocated by the vast majority of residents, 5 of the 7 Swords Cllrs., Fingal County Council Planners and it’s CEO AnnMarie Farrelly.

We want our children to grow up in a clean, safe and sustainable environment. Motion 535 would lead to urban sprawl, worsening climate change and more pressure on already overstretched services.

Please listen to our community Cllr. and withdraw Motion 535!

Find out how you can support the campaign to Save Swords Greenbelt 

Our petition has passed the 2,000 signature mark! (combined online/ door-to-door).

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to support the campaign to save and protect the precious Greenbelt.

*99.4% of Swords residents want the Greenbelt protected. 5 of 7 Swords Cllrs. support the Greenbelt and Fingal CEO AnnMarie Farrelly says the Greenbelt should be protected.

Why isn’t Cllr. Manton listening to the community? Please oppose Motion 535 and save our precious Greenbelt.

Please remember, it’s not about us, it’s about making sure our children grow up in a clean, healthy and sustainable community. As the climate change crisis gets worse, the Greenbelt will become our first line of defence.

We already have enough land zoned residential to cope with anticipated population growth, so destroying a Greenbelt doesn’t make sense!

*Fingal Draft Development Plan – Public Consultation Process

Please continue to sign and share the petition.  

Check out the Dublin Gazette report on opposing Motion 535 to Save the Greenbelt.

*99.4% of our community has asked for the Greenbelt to be protected.

Time is running out!, so please check out how you help

Cllrs. are due to vote on Motion 535 this week (…or next at the latest)

Please keep sharing the petition and encourage friends and family to sign!

*Fingal Draft Development Plan – Public Consultation Process

Cllr. Brigid Manton has put forward Motion: 535 Lands at Brackenstown, Swords (Ref: AI081902) /Fingal Development Plan. 

If this motion is approved by Fingal Cllrs, then the Greenbelt will be rezoned. We will lose a precious resource forever. 

Please act now before it’s too late! (Cllrs. are discussing motions at the moment).

1. Please email/text/WhatsApp Cllr. Manton and ask the Cllr. to withdraw the motion before it’s too late.

2. Also contact, Cllr. Butler and ask the Cllr. to oppose the motion (Cllr. Butler has yet to indicate his position on the Greenbelt)

Cllrs. contact details;

Cllr. Brigid Manton

mobile: 086 247 6596

email: brigid.manton@cllrs.fingal.ie

Cllr. Darragh Butler 

mobile: 087 959 5378

email: Darragh.Butler@cllrs.fingal.ie

Suggested Wording 

Email Subject Line: Motion: 535 Lands at Brackenstown, Swords (Ref: AI081902) please withdraw/oppose this motion (delete as appropriate).

Dear Cllr. Manton/Butler, (delete as appropriate)

I am opposed to Motion: 535 Lands at Brackenstown, Swords (Ref: AI081902) and ask that you please withdraw/oppose (delete as appropriate) this motion.

The vast majority of our community want the Greenbelt protected.

• 300+ submissions were made asking for the Greenbelt to be protected during the current (2023-2029) Development Plan consultation process (the largest number of submissions on any single issue). Submissions were made by a range of residents, community groups and Cllrs. In contrast, 2 submissions called for the Greenbelt to be rezoned.
• 2000+ residents have already signed an ongoing petition asking for the Greenbelt to be retained and protected
• 5 of the 7 Swords Cllrs. are actively supporting the Save Swords Greenbelt campaign
• Fingal County Council Planners and Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly has said there is a sufficient amount of residential (RA) land in Swords to cope with demand. In addition, the they have said the Greenbelt should be protected as a safeguard against climate change, to prevent ad-hoc planning and help build sustainable communities

For all the above reasons (…and more), retaining and protecting this Greenbelt will be highly important for the health and well-being of the people living in our community, especially our children.

Can you please confirm that you will withdraw/oppose this motion? (delete as appropriate)

Regards,