COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart

"That the members call on the Manager to provide a detailed medium to long-term plan for the upkeep and maintenance of Cherryfield Park and the Dodder Linear Park in general which is in a serious state of neglect; is litter strewn; overgrown; unused car parks; vandalism; graffiti - the list is endless - and that such a plan would take advantage of the cycleway proposed for the entire length of the Dodder."

REPORT:

The maintenance of Cherryfield Park, Dodder Valley is focused on providing protection for wildlife, active recreation facilities and walking routes for pedestrians.  Because of the focus on the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat, there are areas that have been allowed to grow in a naturalistic manner and that are subject to low levels of maintenance. This management approach can appear to be a lack of maintenance. To counter this impression, information signage was provided in the park but regrettably had to be removed because they were badly vandalised. Alternatives to fixed signage in the park to inform the public about the maintenance regime have not yet been identified.

In relation to litter, the park is, overall, considered to be generally tidy when compared to some of the other parks in the county. There are of course particular exceptions to this.  The Council makes every effort to clear the litter on a regular basis and is also helped by local voluntary groups in this task from time to time.

The car parking area opposite Firhouse Shopping centre has not been opened to vehicular traffic because the park side of the car park is not secured against vehicular encroachment. A number of options to secure the park boundary are being examined. It is intended to implement the most cost effective measure to enable the car park to be opened for regular use. 

If funding does become available for the pedestrian and cycle path along the Dodder, measures to improve the fabric of the park will be included, where permitted by the terms of the funding scheme.