COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

MOTION NO.10

MOTION: Councillor B. Bonner

That the Manager would submit a report on the care and maintenance of trees and plants in the Clondalkin Village area with particular reference to:-

1, The large wooden planters which are around the village and the Council offices.  They are in a very bad state, with many of them falling apart.  They have a very neglected appearance and don't appear to have been planted up at all.

2. The trees on the Orchard Road and Tower Road.  These need to be tended to as shoots on the lower trunks are spoiling their appearance.  Also the beds under the trees are in a bad state and overgrown with weeds.  Will they be planted up with seasonal bedding?  As it stands they are depressingly neglected. 

I would hope that these issues might be attended to before the Clondalkin Village Festival.  If that is the case this question will be redundant.  If not it will be somewhat farcical for the Council to be launching a village festival when the planting for which the Council is responsible in the centre of our potentially beautiful village is in such a sad and sorry state.

REPORT:

Unfortunately the very severe winter weather this year has caused serious damage to the plant and floral displays in Clondalkin Village. Also, due to pressure of work and limited staff resources available, it is not always possible to maintain the wooden planters and floral schemes in the village to the required standard at all times.  In this regard, the responses of the Parks Department to the specific items raised in the motion are set out as follows;

1. The large wooden planters in Clondalkin Village were provided as part an Urban and Village Renewal Scheme some years ago. The timber surrounds of the planters have deteriorated in condition and will now have to be refurbished/repaired, where this is possible. Those planters which are deemed possible to salvage have now been removed to Corkagh Parks Depot, to enable the necessary repair work to be carried out. 

2. The trees at the Civic Offices, Orchard Road and Tower Road have been attended to and re-planted with herbaceous perennial flowering plants, which will provide a permanent floral feature in the village. This work was completed in advance of the Clondalkin Village Festival on Sunday last.  It should be noted that some of the trees on Tower Road have died over the winter months and will have to be removed.

The erection of hanging baskets on the street lights in the village, which is arranged annually by the Parks Department, was also completed in advance of the Clondalkin Village Festival.