COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (2)

Monday, September 27, 2010

MOTION NO. 6

MOTION: Councillor D. Looney

That this Committee, recognising the damage caused to Council-maintained grass verges, road kerbs and other property, as well as the traffic difficulties caused by roadside parking, asks the Manager to liaise with local sports clubs to investigate late opening of car parks in Tymon Park on relevant weekday nights to accommodate sports teams using the park during the summer months.

REPORT:

The opening and closing times of car parks in the Council’s parks is as follows:

November, December & January   5.00pm
February & March 6.00pm  
April & October  7.00pm  
May & September  8.00pm  
June, July & August 9.00pm  

These times allow for use of the parks consistent with the changing seasons.  However, the issue of football matches, in particular, extending later than the closing times of the parks is an issue that has been identified before.  In order to allow for the proper policing of our parks it is necessary to have the car parks opened and closed by staff members of the Parks and Landscape Services Department.  Arrangements to allow an extension of the opening and closing times would have implications for budgetary control and staff numbers and it is not possible to consider changes to this at this time of budgetary constraint.

The Conditions of Pitch Allocation to which all clubs using our parks and open spaces have signed up to contain two sections which are highly relevant:

 Where designated car parking is provided, clubs must ensure that both their members and the visiting teams avail of these facilities.  In all other cases, clubs must ensure that all cars are parked so as to cause minimal inconvenience to adjoining residents and be in compliance with the Traffic Laws/regulations.

 

Where mid-week fixtures are arranged particularly at beginning / end of season, clubs must ensure that the starting time is set so as the games terminate at least 30 minutes before the official closing time of the park which varies from month to month. (See below and also the Council’s website www.southdublin.ie)

Other arrangements for the closing of gates have from time to time been tested but have not proved to be robust or sustainable.