THE owners of Brennanstown Riding School and Equestrian Centre are this week objecting to proposed plans by the Wicklow County Council to build a major new roadway from Kilmacanogue village towards the Sugar Loaf Mountain, which would run directly along the boundary wall of the facility.
First proposed last year, the council was attempting to build the roadway across the slopes of the Little Sugarloaf Mountain, to connect the ‘Woodies’ roundabout at Bray, to the roundabout at Kilmacanogue village. That proposal was widely rejected by local residents with over 1,000 objections being lodged with Wicklow County Council.
However, on the news of the revised plans, the owner of Brennanstown Riding Centre, Jane Kennedy, said the road would have serious implications for her business, which relies on the scenic hacking routes.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
“Should these plans go ahead, it would isolate the riding school from its riding-out area, and would have a hugely negative impact on our business. On Tuesday of this week we had a meeting with local councillors to discuss the implications for local businesses and residents,” she told The Irish Field.
Brennanstown welcomes hundreds of tourists to the centre every year, who travel to Wicklow especially to hack in the beautiful surrounding mountains, which are currently accessible from the centre without ever crossing the road. Riding also takes place on the Hollybrook Estate and there is access to Killruddery Estate.
The council also propose re-zoning the lower slopes of the Little Sugarloaf Mountain to mixed commercial and housing usage.
Local residents worry that it is the council’s intention to complete the formerly proposed roadway by stealth over time, greatly impacting on the visual and environmental balance of the Kilmacanogue valley. Yesterday (Friday) was the final day for objections to be lodged. Local resident Fia O’Caoimh said: “We believe in the region of 2,000-2,500 objections have been lodged this time.
“The proposed road will have a huge impact on our environment, with significant forestry being destroyed to facilitate construction. Local people are very uneasy and we feel the need to defend our local environment.”