COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

"That this Area Committee expresses it concerns in relation to further recent break-ins at the Lucan Harriers/Weston Hockey Club carpark at Griffeen Valley Park; and requests the Chief Executive to:

- present a report on the operation and monitoring of CCTV in place on the clubhouse;

- immediately carry-out pruning and removal of hedging around the northern part of the car park."

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.