COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"To ask the Manager for a detailed update on the review of kissing-gates in place throughout Griffeen Valley Park to ensure they are as cyclist-friendly as possible, as requested in my motion at the January meeting?"

REPLY:

Griffeen Valley Park (GVP) is comprised of four main areas as follows:

1.       GVP West – approximately 12.4 hectares.  Includes Weston Hockey Pitch and Lucan Harriers Running Track, etc.

2.       GVP North – approximately 29 hectares.  Include sports centre, tennis courts, playground, Skate Park, etc.

3.       GVP South – Approximately 10 hectares.  Includes constructed wetland and viewing mound.

4.       GVP Grange – Approximately 20 hectares.  Area designated for new parks depot.  Linked by bridges spanning the Grand Canal and the Iarnród Éireann rail line.

There are a total of 25 kissing gates at the various pedestrian entrances into the 4 sections of the park listed above.  The kissing gates are considered to be as cycle friendly as possible given the primary function for which they were installed.  That is to facilitate universal access to the park while deterring unauthorised vehicles and horses from gaining access to the park.  It was noted during the review of access points to the park that the short bridge which spans the ecological corridor to the south of GVP Grange does not have a kissing gate on it.  Security to the park at this location is provided by a row of bollards.  Unfortunately the bollards are not preventing horses from gaining access to the park and it was noted that there were a number of horses in the park at the time of inspection.   While there are no immediate plans to replace these bollards with a kissing gate this is being kept under review and is subject to change.