COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor P. Gogarty

"That the Chief Executive urgently sets in place a process to close off all access from the old Lucan Newlands Road wasteland on the historic esker between Castle Riada and Moy Glas, given that a proposed accessibility study access cycle corridor did not go ahead and is unlikely to be revived in the near future; given the ongoing antisocial behaviour and break-ins being experienced by residents in both estates all along this route; and in particular to immediately close up with a brick wall or fence the gap between Castle Riada Drive and Moy Glas lawn (which the Council made wider recently despite efforts by residents to close it off), as this flies in the face of the agreed closure of the fence onto the ORR at this location following a request by Moy Glas residents Association and is dearly wanted by residents living in Castle Riada Drive who have reported thieves using the gap to escape following break-ins."

REPORT:

The Lucan - Newlands Road which formally ran along the top of the esker between Moy Glas and Castle Riada measures approximately 330 meters in length. There are numerous pedestrian links between the estates and in the section of the esker nearest Moy Glas Green there is full access along a large section of the esker. It has been the experience of the Public Realm section that to close off individual access points only results in alternative accesses being created adjacent to or in close proximity to the one that is closed. Therefore to implement a successful closure it would be necessary to erect a fence along the entire length of the esker. Such a measure would be cost prohibitive and is unlikely to be successful given the high levels of use that the esker currently receives. While the connectivity routes are causing distress for residents living in the area nevertheless these routes exist as they have done so for hundreds of years. To have any success in altering these routes they must first be acknowledged for their importance and secondly alternative routes must be provided at strategic locations. The solution is not to erect fences and walls to impede movement but to facilitate it in a manner that is acceptable to all.

The permeability project to develop a pedestrian and cycle route along the esker in 2012 did not proceed as the NTA did not sanction the revisions during the Part 8 stage. This proposal is still considered to be the most sustainable treatment for the area as it would increase the amount of legitimate users along the route.

With specific reference to the gap which exists between Castle Riada Drive and Moy Glas Lawn, green garden waste i.e. grass clippings and tree and shrub prunings were being illegally dumped at the base of the esker beside the R136 boundary wall.   From the nature of the dumped material and the dumping location, it is most likely that it was locally generated waste.  The material had been accumulating over a period of time and had resulted in the area where it was situated becoming raised to such an extent that it provided a convenient step to cross the R136 boundary wall. This material was removed in June 2016.  Due to the large volume of material dumped it was necessary to use a JCB to remove it.  A total of 6 tonnes of waste was removed and the area reinstated.

It is not proposed to fence off this gap however with some minor intervention, the natural vegetation is slowly colonising this area which over time should help prevent access. This has taken place successfully on the top part of the esker and it may be possible to achieve a similar outcome at this location.

The Public Realm Section still maintains the esker it in its current form and will continue to do, removing litter and debris as necessary and undertaking pruning where required. Due to the raised height of the esker the amount of pruning of dense vegetation that can be undertaken is limited. The issue of anti-social behaviour is best addressed by An Garda Síochána who have the powers to enforce the laws under the Public order and Criminal Justice Acts.