COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
HEADED ITEM NO. 2
REPORT ON PUBLIC CONSULTATION CONCERNING THE PROPOSED NIGHT-TIME CLOSURE OF GATES ACCESSING RATHFARNHAM CASTLE PARK FROM
RATHFARNHAM WOOD AND RATHFARNHAM ROAD (OPPOSITE YELLOW HOUSE)
INTRODUCTION:
A report on this proposal was presented to the Elected Members of the Rathfarnham Area Committee on the 14th December 2010. The Elected Members were in favour of the proposal and it was agreed to proceed to local consultation. Notices to this effect were displayed at the entrances to the park at the beginning of April 2011 and submissions were accepted until the 27th April 2011. A total of 22 submissions were received.
The substance of the comments received and the response of the Council to them is detailed below. In general the main item of concern raised by those who made submissions was that the opening and closing hours as detailed on the site notices were too restrictive. However, the opening and closing times can be extended since the system to be used is an automatic one controlled by an automatic timer system. Therefore, extended opening and closing times can be accommodated to suit the particular circumstances of this park.
It is therefore, the intention of the Council to:
- Recommence with works to control the opening and closing times of the pedestrian gates at Rathfarnham Road and Rathfarnham Wood by the installation of automatically controlled gates similar to those already installed at Castleside and Woodlands.
- To consult with the residents before starting work on the gate closures in order to fully clarify any concerns that arose during the consultation period. The proposed date for this consultation is the 23rd June 2011 in the Council depot in Rathfarnham Castle Park.
SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED:
22 submissions were received from the following. A response clarifying the issue of the proposed opening and closing times was issued to each of the respondents.
Comments and issues raised by the respondents
| Submission by | General Comment | Specific Issue | |
| 1 | Brian O'Brien KenneyBeaufort Villas | In principle there is no objection to the proposal | Access to park outside the proposed opening hours |
| 2 | Trevor Connolly 57 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 3 | Christiane O’Sullivan 64 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 4 | John Hughes 78 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 5 | Eadaoin Furey 49 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 6 | Peter O´Connor | - | Worried about being locked into the park |
| 7 | Shane McDonagh Grange Park | - | Access to park outside the proposed opening hours |
| 8 | Pat Hanratty 36 Rathfarnham Wood | Dispute the contention that there is anti social behaviour | Ditto |
| 9 | Mary Galvin and Aidan Brophy 62 Rathfarnham Wood | Dispute the contention that there is anti social behaviour | Ditto |
| 10 | Helen Stewart 66 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 11 | Donal Lynch | - | Ditto |
| 12 | Eoin Kenny 81 Rathfarnham Wood | Not in favour of closing it at all. Complimented the playground as a great amenity | Ditto |
| 13 | Karem Langberg Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 14 | John Cribben 13 Rathfarnham Wood | In favour of the proposals | - |
| 15 | Michael Furey 49 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 16 | Dermot O’Sullivan 64 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 17 | Declan Furlong 77 Rathfarnham Wood | - | Ditto |
| 18 | Laurence Mullally | - | · Access to park outside the proposed opening hours. · Lack of consultation |
| 19 | Sarah Barry 183 DeBret House | - | Access to park outside the proposed opening hours |
| 20 | Thomas Sexton | - | Ditto |
| 21 | Declan Healy | - | Ditto |
| 22 | Robert Fagan | - | Ditto |