COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE-TERENURE AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

MOTION NO.4

MOTION: Councillor D. O'Donovan

"That the Chief Executive reconsiders the decision to proceed with a Playspace in Glendoher Park.  There are very serious anti-social and criminal activities ongoing in the Park and the full extent was not known at the public meeting in June when the decision to go ahead was made.  The Community Garda has been asked to log all activities in the area over the next three months and the decision should be reviewed at that stage.  Even those who previously voted for this Playspace have now changed their minds because of the ongoing difficulties in the Park."

REPORT:

"The consultation process concerning the proposed Play Space in Glendoher was undertaken over a number of months and Council Officials have spoken to a great number of people who live close to the park.  The claims of serious anti-social behaviour and criminal activity were not raised during this process and are not supported either by complaints to the Council or to the Gardaí.  We have spoken to the staff who manage the area and to the Community Gardaí and they reject the notion of serious anti-social and criminal activity in the park.

The area, in the past had been a regular drinking den and known problem spot but according to Gardaí this problem has greatly reduced in recent years as the park has been developed. 

There have been a number of attempts to generate fears about the impact of a play space in this area.  The consultation exercise would indicate that about 10 people for every 1 are in support of the proposal.  We have spoken to people who were initially against the proposal but when the actual proposal was explained and discussed they expressed their support for it. No consultation process is ever likely to result in a unanimous conclusion and this one is no exception.

The Council has undertaken a considerable amount of time in local consultation for this project including meeting with local residents and children themselves. The final design was a collaborative process and there were a number of iterations before the design was agreed. In addition, at a public meeting in Ballyroan library residents were invited to analyse the tenders that were received and to rate them. 40 submissions were received and these results were included in the overall analysis of the tenders. The Council is satisfied that the consultation process was inclusive and open and it is intended to proceed with the project."