COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

MOTION NO. 2

MOTION: Councillor P. Cosgrave

Cathaoirleach's Business

"That the Manager include in the works of the Grange Road Permeability project the removal of the railings at the green area at the side of house 1 Grange Downs out to the Barton Road Extn. be replaced with a stone wall as requested by the Grange Downs Residents Association. A stone wall will be built as part of the works of the Grange Road Permeability project at this green area and should include the replacement of the railings with a stone wall."

REPORT:

The railings in question are part of the boundary of Loreto Park, Rathfarnham. The railings are within Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area. As this project crosses from South Dublin County into Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, there have been a number of meetings to ensure that cross boundary aspects of the project are taken into consideration.  At the outset officials from the Parks Dept in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council referred to previous incidents of anti-social behaviours in the Loreto Park area and expressed their view that the railings be retained to allow passive surveillance into the park and deter anti-social behaviour. Therefore, a stone wall was not included in the project nor has it been budgeted for. Following the above motion, further queries were made to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. They have reiterated their view that a high stone wall would provide a hiding place for anti-social behaviour that currently occurs from time to time in Loreto Park. Furthermore that a low stone wall could become a seating area or facilitate a short cut that is currently precluded by the existing railings. The Parks Dept also noted that the railings around the park are consistent at that location and were of the view that it would be inappropriate to replace a small section of the boundary.

While at the site meeting with Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Parks Dept the closest resident to Loreto Park approached officials and expressed his view that the retention of railings would be most preferable. He said he has had experience of anti-social behaviour at that location; that currently he has to ask people not to scale his wall and is fearful that if a stone wall were in place it would provide people with a stepping stone onto his boundary wall.  Furthermore, that a high stone wall would act as a hiding place or a gathering place for anti -social behaviour. The resident was of the view that the railings should be left as existing as it encourages people towards the existing park entrance.