Dollard's stance on Negative Climate Impact of Abbey Quarter Car Park Vindicated

Cllr Dollard successfully limits use of Abbey Quarter car park in appeal

Exclusive car park for AQ workers must include disabled parking, bicycle parking and EV charging points, insist

An Bord Planala.

The planning permission granted by Kilkenny County Council for the car park in the Abbey Quarter was appealed to An Bord Planala by a number of people including Cllr Maria Dollard. “While I had no particular objection to a temporary coach park element, I was astonished at the addition of 120 car parking spaces. It appeared to me to be completely out of step in the middle of a pandemic that is leading us to a transition to remote/hybrid work, active travel in cities and towns and Kilkenny’s ambition to reduce our carbon footprint. Kilkenny has empty car spaces all over the city. I was also surprised that disabled people, cyclists or EV drivers were not included in the plan”

Cllr Maria Dollard lodged an appeal to the planning permission based on a number of environmental and climate change issues. “given the changes in car use I was unhappy with the lack of clarity regarding the purpose of the car park and given the ample car parking spaces available already in Kilkenny, it was not clear who would be using the car park nor how the estimated 440 metres square of bituminous material that the creation of the car park would create, will be disposed of when being decommissioned”

The new permission has created clarity on a number of points raised by attaching new conditions to the permission. The car park is strictly temporary for a maximum of 7 years and it can only be used by those working in the Abbey Quarter site currently under construction. There must also be ‘an appropriate’ number of accessible parking and bicycle spaces. The Bord has also insisted as a condition that 12 EV charging stations be installed. A construction and waste demolition plan must also be submitted along with revised layout details.

“This will be a very expensive car park and not a good use of public money. It could be argued that the coach park element is required on a temporary basis whenever we have coach tours back in business and visiting Kilkenny in the coming years. However, I do not believe there is an urgent need for this car park and it is not a good use of our public purse. Low carbon footprint tenants like multi Oscar nominated Cartoon Saloon would be an ideal anchor tenant in The Brewhouse but that is a matter for the AQ development company and not County Councillors. Let’s hope public money is spent thoughtfully and wisely. Given the opposition to a large car park in the Abbey Creative Quarter consultation process, I’m sure many people in Kilkenny will be following this development closely”

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Legislation to Cap Excess Profits for Energy Companies

By Maria Dollard • September 4, 2023

New bill to combat high electricity costs welcomed by Kilkenny Councillor by Liam Kelly O’Rourke Kilkenny People 01 Sep 2023 4:48 PM Kilkenny Green Party Councillor, Maria Dollard, has welcomed the publication of the Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Bill. The Bill provides a cap on the market revenues genered by non-gas generators in the wholesale electricity market between December 2022 to June 2023. The estimated proceeds from the cap on market revenues are in the range €80 million to €150 million and these will now be retained and used in the electricity sector to provide financial supports to households and businesses affected by high energy prices. Cllr Dollard, commented: "This is good news for Kilkenny consumers who will see the money collected ring fenced to be returned to consumers who have been paying way too much for electricity for a long time now. We need to support those on the lowest incomes. There’s no doubt some people are being hit harder than others and without access to good insulation, bills can be very high for some, especially older people and people with reduced mobility." Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, claimed the move would 'ease the impact of high energy prices on electricity consumers' and stated he intends to bring this Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas when the Dáil resumes after the summer recess. https://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/local-news/1287190/new-bill-to-combat-high-electricity-costs-welcomed-by-kilkenny-councillor.html