COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
MOTION NO. 12
MOTION: Councillor E. Tuffy
That the Manager would make a report to the meeting on the progress of the measures being implemented by the Park's Department and other Council Departments, in consultation with Moy Glas and Esker Riada Residents Associations, on the embankment / esker between the estates, to ameliorate the disturbance and inconvenience to residents arising from anti-social behaviour.
REPORT:
The esker between Moy Glas and Castle Riada Estates forms part of the Esker Riada, one of the most significant ancient heritage features in the South Dublin County Council area. It runs in an east/west direction across Ireland (sometimes in the form of parallel ridges), and it divides the island into two parts which are roughly equal. For the very earliest people of ancient Ireland, the esker was one of the country's most important land based thoroughfares as the slight elevation provided drier, firmer ground for travel than the surrounding, low lying wetland and bogland. The Esker Riada was of particular significance because it provided a route from the east of the country, through the
In South Dublin, the esker served as the Lucan Newlands road linking Clondalkin with Lucan. It was only with the development in the 1990's of Castle Riada and Moy Glas housing estates, and associated new road system, and the construction of the Outer Ring Road, to the east in the mid 2000's, that this ancient route became somewhat redundant. In recent years, during the course of the route planning for the proposed Lucan LUAS F line, the significance of the esker, in terms of the emerging preferred route became apparent.
While it is acknowledged that the behaviour of a relatively small element of the local community is causing disturbance and inconvenience for a number of residents living in close proximity to the esker, there is a very significant opportunity here to provide for local permeability and sustainable travel for the good of the wider community living in the area. It is also acknowledged that, in its present condition and with the associated anti-social behaviour, it is difficult for local residents to appreciate the heritage value and opportunity that the esker presents.
The Council now finds itself at an impasse for in order to move forward with any improvements, the potential of the esker to provide for local permeability, connectivity and sustainable travel needs to be acknowledged and supported by all parties involved.
People provide passive supervision and, where they move in sufficient number and frequency, provide for mutual safety while actively deterring anti-social behaviour from taking place in the first place. The construction of fences and walls to impede movement, thereby creating dead, unsupervised spaces which become havens for anti-social behaviour, would be considered to be counter productive to the objective to facilitate movement in a manner that is acceptable to all. The key to success will be to provide an attractive environment which will encourage significant numbers of people to use this route on a regular basis over the greater part of the day, thus displacing the anti-social elements.
In the meantime, the Parks Department has agreed to:
1. Prune back vegetation to the north of the Esker at the base on the Castle Riada side in accordance with best horticultural practice.
2. Prune vegetation to the south/east of the Esker at the base on the Moy Glas side in accordance with best horticultural practice.
3. Remove posts from the old beech hedge on top of the Esker to the west.
These works follow on from discussions at a meeting with the Castle Riada and Moy Glas Resident Associations on July 25th 2011. In addition to the above the Environment Departments Operational Crew has been cleaning the area with the most recent cleanup taking place on October 5th.
A number of other issues have been identified by both resident groups which involve the input from the Roads and Development Department. These relate to the following:
1. Closing the access to the esker from Griffeen Road adjacent to the bottle banks. A right of way exists at this point and any consideration to closing the access would require an extinguishment of the right of way.
2. Securing access points which allow north south movement from Castle Riada over the esker into Moy Glas.
3. Secure the access point which allows north south movement from Castle Riada into Moy Glas at the Outer Ring Road end of the esker.
Again some of the issues identified above cannot be resolved without first acknowledging the importance of the esker as a connectivity route and providing alternative links. Discussions with both Departments are ongoing however some of the solutions proposed are not pragmatic and require further clarification with the Resident Associations.