COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

Cathaoirleach's Business

"Further to my representations made on the issues and concerns raised by the club members and club users at the facilities in the Griffeen Park (Weston Hockey/Lucan Harriers) (see email below) that this committee requests the CEO to further examine the introduction of CCTV at this location.

"We had 3 car break ins at our clubhouse car park again this evening on Newcastle road. 

Disappointing for this to happen after lights were installed.
It's clear we need more security and help from the council on ways to increase security around the clubhouse,  track and Weston hockey pitch.

We've had numerous problems with anti social behaviour.  These car break ins tonight were 2 Lucan Harriers cars and 1 from local GAA.
The culprits wait for Harriers to leave the track and hit during training times when they know the car park is quiet.

Can you all please help and escalate at council meetings on our behalf?
We obviously need help with increasing security measures,  getting surveillance cameras working again.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give."

REPORT:

As part of the 2016 Public Realm Improvement Works Programme 7 new lighting columns were installed in the Newcastle Road car park at Griffeen Valley Park. The lights were installed following concerns over the poor levels of visibility in the car park at night which led to a number of break-ins to cars as set out in Motion 5 at the Lucan ACM in September 2015. This issue seems to have abated in the intervening years and it is disappointing to note that it has re-emerged. The nature of break-in activities seems to be sporadic. While the Council does not condone such activities it needs to consider the options available to deal with such incidences in a practical way. It is not possible to install CCTV in every situation where such problems exist. The cost of such a programme would be prohibitive and there is no guarantee of success.

Practical measures which can be employed in this car park include the thinning of vegetation. While it may not be possible to undertake these works before the restrictions on the pruning of vegetation come into force at the end of February, the works will be listed for the current year.  Clubs that are using the car park could also take a practical approach and stagger use to ensure that there is a presence in the car park at all times. This would be particularly relevant where they are aware of the general times that incidents occur.

There are 3 existing CCTV cameras on the clubhouse building and despite their presence car break-ins do occur. The council is unaware of the ownership of the cameras and their condition but would be available to meet the club(s) to explore options that may be available to them in this regard.