I make this submission as a resident of Viking Harbour on Usher's Island (immediately adjacent to Watling Street) and also the local representative of the Green Party in Dublin 8. I use Victoria Quay daily as a pedestrian, both travelling to Heuston Station and to HSQ where my daughter attends a creche. I also use Victoria Quay and Watling Street as a motorist, those streets being the only way to leave from Viking Harbour by car. I am also an observer and admirer of the place of the brewery in the life of this part of Dublin over the years.

I welcome the plan as submitted, in so far as it plans for the use of parts of the brewery that has been derelict, and also improves the visibility of brewing activities from Victoria Quay. However, I think that a number of aspects of the plan could be improved on behalf of local residents and visitors to Dublin.

The plans impact specifically on Victoria Quay and Watling street, which border the part of the Diageo plant which is to be developed. They will also impact residents of apartments on Sarsfield and Ellis Quay, the Simon hostel and Viking Harbour Apartments on Usher's Island, the residents of The Maltings and Emmet Court on Watling Street.

Victoria Quay is the first street experienced by visitors to Dublin who arrive by rail and choose to walk to the city centre. Many members of the public have expressed concerns for their personal safety along the quays. A contributing factor to this lack of safety and security is the presence of a high unbroken wall along the lenght of the quay, and the high speed of traffic passing by. Undoubtedly, the fact that ony one gate on the quay is functioning also means that there is a lack of on street activity. These conditions create a situation where pedestrians feel vulnerable as they walk along a long stretch of unobserved footpath.

The footpath adjoining Diageo is heavily used by commuters travelling to and from Heuston Station at peak hours, and other occasional rail travellers accessing the station. At present it is necessary for pedestrians to step onto the road when passing others, due to the narrow nature of the footpath. The non-functioning gates to the brewery site also lack ramps, causing problems for pedestrians pushing prams or wheeled luggage.

My first observation would be that the the works would be amended to ensure that the footpath would be widened to allow for the pedestrian volumes using it (at least 3 people should be able to pass at all points). This would require the narrowing of the traffic lanes, which would in turn lead to a slowing down of traffic speeds, which at present, as evidenced by the regular appearance of the Garda Speed cameras, are presently frequently in excess of 50km/h.

A cycle lane should be provided to further protect pedestrians from circulating motorised traffic. If necessary, the truck parking could be removed from the river side, as this is less frequently used, given the 7am-7pm 5 axel ban in the area, and the existence of the Dublin Port Tunnel.

The plans should also be modified to ensure that ramps are provided for prams, wheelchairs and wheeled luggage at the non-functioning gates. Consideration should also be given to having these gates as functioning entrances, to improve use of the quay. The works to Victoria Quay House should also allow egress to the street. The number of proposed viewing points through the wall (as in the plan) should be maximised, and extended the full lenght of the property. It should be possible to see through the gates, as this would allow more involvement of the neighbourhood and passing motorists with the brewing.

Page 317 of the Dublin City Draft Development plan 2012-2017 lists Victoria Quay among Paved Areas and Streets with Granite Kerbing (..) and includes some aditional features such as Stone andCast-Iron Protective Bollards, (..) to be retained or restored and included in the CityCouncil's Programme for Restoration. This work should be carried out, while ensuring that the ramps mentioned above can be accommodated.

A number of trees exist on the footpath at Victoria Quay. Some trees have been removed in recent years. A programme of replacing these trees and adding more native Irish trees on both sides of the road should be part of any enhancement of the area.

It is important that during the proposed works, pedestrians using Victoria Quay should be taken into account. It would be unacceptable to ask such pedestrians to cross the busy quays, and so if works are taking place on the pavement, accommodation must be made for them by closing the bus lane, or by moving the bus lane to the right.

Watling Street also adjoins the area for development. This ancient street has suffered from the inclusion of all properties on one side of the street between "mothers tankstation" and the Rupert Guinness Centre into the fortress style brewery enclosure, with no interaction with the street. Currently Noel Leonard's pub is closed and a further property opposite the former tannery lies vacant. This street is frequently used by tourists making their way to the Guinness Storehouse from the National Museum at Collins Barracks and from Smithfield.

Development within the site should be arranged so that the area adjoining Watling Street, including the tannery, can at some point be redeveloped as commercial premises opening onto the street. As the digital hub currently lacks space (the charity Camara recently moved out to a suburban location) these properties could and should be rented to information technology startups.

p91 of the Development Plan mentions that "Dublin's tourism industry relies largely on the city's built heritage, with its unique character and identity as a city of neighbouring but distinct quarters. This surely means that Watling street should also be considered for development instead of continuing as a blank wall which is in no way welcoming to tourists. This would also benefit local residents, and Diageo staff walking to work, as living streets are safer streets.

The development plan also discusses works at Heuston Plaza. These plans should also be brought forward so that they take place at the same time as the construction of the new brewhouse.

Finally, residents in the area should be informed of when works are taking place which might impact them, in terms of noise or dust,  These residents include Emmet Court, Watling Street, Viking Harbour and The Maltings/New Maltings Apartments as well as the apartments on Sarsfield Quay and Ellis Quay.