COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 09, 2014

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor A-M. Dermody

"That the Chief Executive update this meeting as to the progress to date with regard to the playspace initiative for the Ward. It is fair to say that the initiative across the County and most notably within the Rathfarnham Ward has not been well received by residents. Two suggested locations that from my instructions would welcome a playspace might be around Stocking Avenue and indeed this suggestion has been made by me and accepted by the Manager at earlier RAC meetings, a second suggestion would be in Glendoher Park, there is unlikely to be the same level of opposition from residents as Glendoher Park is sufficiently away from individual houses as not to draw concerns that the space might be a magnet for anti-social gatherings."

REPORT:

The Five Year Play Space Programme 2014 – 2018 for the Rathfarnham Area Committee (as it was prior to the 2014 Local Government Elections) included for two play spaces in the Ward - Marian Park and Whitechurch. Following a presentation on the programme to the Elected Members it was agreed that a more suitable location for a Play Space instead of the one proposed for Marian Road would be in the Woodstown area. The principle reason for this was the size of the child population in the Woodstown area as against that in the Marian Road area.

The roll out of the programme included for consultation with community leaders in relation to the most suitable site, to be followed up with a public meeting with local residents, to which the Elected Members for the area were also invited. The primary object of the exercise was to secure public agreement for the proposed sites. The first consultation to be undertaken was in Whitechurch and there was total opposition to the proposal that had been tentatively agreed in the preliminary consultation exercise. Following further local discussion, and having regard to the timelines for delivering the programme, it was decided to park the Whitechurch site and move to the next most suitable site in the area.

For the Woodstown area a similar, but more intensive exercise, was conducted and a site also agreed with community leaders. However, sustained opposition from local residents to the proposal emerged and was reiterated at the subsequent public meeting and for similar reasons, it was again decided to park the proposal and move on. An alternative site at Idrone and a suggested site at Beverely also met with opposition. Since the programme included for 10 projects across all the Electoral Areas to be agreed, tendered and commenced in 2014 it was considered to be not practicable to continue the exercise in 2014 in the Rathfarnham Electoral Area.

Similar exercises were conducted in the other Electoral Areas and while a lot of similar issues also arose, it was possible to move the proposals forward through discussion, consultation and the support of the Elected Members. As a result, locations for seven play spaces went to tender over the summer period and three contracts have been awarded so far. It is expected that development of the first two play spaces will commence at Rathcoole and Knockmitten by the end of September.

With regard to the suggestion of Stocking Lane: most of the estates in this area are still under the control of private developers. However, the Receiver for one section of the housing areas at Stocking Well has agreed for a play space to be included in the Landscape Plan for the designated open space and it is expected that this plan will be implemented in 2015.

In the case of Glendoher Park, it is intended to commence discussions on the 2015 Play Programme in November 2014 and Glendoher will be included in this programme.

It is proposed to present an update on the Programme, including the consultation plans for 2015, to the October Rathfarnham / Templeogue -Terenure Area Committee Meeting.