COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

MOTION NO.10

MOTION: Councillor E. Ó Broin

Cathaoirleach's Business:

That this Committee agrees that the Chief Executive present a report to the committee for discussion on the 2010 South Dublin Joint Policing Committee report Reclaiming Our Parks, Report of the Parks sub-group detailing progress on the reports 35 recommendations relevant to SDCC and Collinstown and St Cuthberts Park.

REPORT:

The Joint Policing Committee Parks sub group presented the Reclaiming Our Parks report to the Joint Policing Committee in September 2010.

The report set out a series of recommendations (52 in total) under three broad themes. 

The recommendations in the report were summarized into five categories relating to the responsible body and set out in Appendix A of the report. The five categories are as follows: 

  1. Recommendations relating to South Dublin County Council (35)
  2. Recommendations relating jointly to South Dublin County Council and An Garda Siochána (4)
  3. Recommendations relating to An Garda Siochána (1)
  4. Recommendations relating to Ministers & State Bodies (10)
  5. Recommendations relating to the Joint Policing Committee (2)

The recommendations were also categorised into those actions which could be advanced within existing resources and those actions which would require additional resources.

Following the adoption of the report at the Joint Policing Committee Meeting in November 2010, an Implementation Group was established consisting of Elected Members, Community representatives, members of An Garda Siochána and staff representatives from the Community and Parks Departments of the Council. The group reports on a twice yearly basis to the main Committee.

The implementation group was tasked with progressing the various actions having regard to resources and timeframes. 

The fifty two actions were divided into three action categories:-

Time frame Actions Completed Ongoing Not started
         
Short term 30 9 15 6
Med term 15 3 8 4
Long term 7 1 4 2
         
Total 52 13 27 12

 Of the fifty two actions, five actions specifically relate to St. Cuthberts Park, namely Actions 6, 12, 17, 19 and 29.

Action 6. The sub-group recommends that a pilot training scheme in the area of landscape management and horticulture be pursued in the St. Cuthbert’s Park area in conjunction with the Dolcain Project, South Dublin County Council and CPLN Area Partnership.

This is a medium term action and was to involve discussions will be held with the Dolcain project and relevant training authorities to establish a working group to develop proposals for a pilot training scheme. This action has not been commenced.

Action 12. The sub-group recommends that works be carried out to modify the existing wall at Lealand Road/Lindisfarne Grove to prevent unauthorised vehicles accessing the park.

This is a medium term action and was identified as requiring additional resources to advance it. 

The existing boundary to St. Cuthbert’s Park, including the boundary at Lealand Road/Lindisfarne Grove, was secured against unauthorized motor vehicle access many years ago. As the boundary proved to be effective against motor cars, a switch to motorbikes and quads took place. These vehicles are light enough to be lifted into the park and the council has been informed anonymously that local residents are responsible. The cost of altering the existing boundary to St. Cuthbert’s Park at Lealand Road / Lindisfarne Grove is being considered but is subject to the identification of the necessary resources.

Action 17. The sub-group recommends extensions of Halloween festivals and supervised bonfires to both Killinarden Park and St. Cuthbert’s Park.

This action was categorised as long term and requiring additional resources.

Organised bonfires were discontinued some years ago for several reasons including the lack of impact on the number of illegal bonfires in the surrounding area. It is not proposed to provide organised bonfires but arrangements have been made by the Community Department to commence discussions with the Elected Members on the provision of alternative community based activities for Halloween 2015. The first meeting is taking place directly after the Area Committee.

Action 19. The sub-group recommends that the Council prioritise efforts to preserve St. Cuthbert’s Church and associated graveyard as a pilot-project from which lessons may be learned with respect to the preservation of heritage features in other parks in our county.

In particular with respect to St. Cuthbert’s Church and associated graveyard this report recommends:

i) Responsibility as well as budgetary provision for the maintenance of the Recorded Monument should be formally devolved to the Parks and Landscape Department;

ii) An assessment of the church and graveyard should be carried out to advise preparation of proposed programme of works and to provide the necessary information to the National Monuments section so that we can obtain their permission to carry out works to the Recorded Monument;

vi) The vegetation should be cut back thereby offering the site passive surveillance from the adjacent houses;

vii) Broken gravestones should be removed, catalogued and stored;

viii) Pilot-project could involve a community-employment or training scheme.

This action was categorised as long term and requiring significant additional resources. This action has not been commenced.

Action 29. The sub-group recommends implementation of the new Specific Local Objective in the new South Dublin County Development Plan 2010-2016 to: “actively seek the provision of a Community Centre in St. Cuthbert’s Park to serve the local needs of the community in Deansrath area”. To progress this objective the sub-group recommends that the existing St. Cuthbert’s Park Development Group, set up by Dolcain Project and including several SDCC representatives and community representatives, be recognised and supported as lead implementation group.

This action was identified as medium term and requiring additional resources. This action has not been commenced.

There are no actions in the report specific to Collinstown Park rather it is covered by actions which apply in general to public parks.