COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
MOTION NO. 11
MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole
"Following my motion raised in June 2016 (see below) that this council requests the Chief Executive to further examine the criteria for Fun Fairs in our parks and to consider removing the Fun Fair from the Griffeen Park, Newcastle Road following complaints from residents that are located in close proximity to park with a view to identifying a more appropriate location."
Monday, June 20, 2016
MOTION NO. 21
MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole
That this Council asks the Chief Executive to consult with local residents and other local stakeholders regarding the suitability and impact of temporary Fun Fairs.
REPORT:
Section 239 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) obliges a person who intends to hold or organise a funfair to give notice of this to the local authority in whose functional area the funfair will be held, and sets out the information which must accompany the notice such as valid safety certificate for each piece of funfair equipment.
Under Article 9 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended), a person who intends to hold or organise a funfair shall give two working days notice in writing to the local authority in whose functional area the funfair is to be held.
Sites for circuses and funfairs are designated in each of the Council's Regional Parks and circuses and funfairs have been using them over a number of years.
The establishment of these sites developed through a process of consultation with local residents associations over the years, and with the passage of time, local residents have become accustomed to the annual arrival of circuses and funfairs to these Regional Parks.
The Council invites tenders, by public advertisement each year for these sites. Historically, these advertisementds were placed around mid-May on the Council’s website. Following analysis, a programme is prepared based on the successful tenders.
The last Circus and FunFair tender was published in 2015 to cover the period August 2015 to September 2018 inclusive.
Council staff also engage in event planning with the operators of the funfairs, the Gardai and local residents associations (where such exists), with particular emphasis placed on dealing with issues that may have arisen the previous year and the identification of steps to improve the situation.
The Council would welcome feedback in relation to any specific location with which residents may have concern regarding the suitability and impact of temporary Fun Fairs.
REPORT:
In 2015 South Dublin County Council advertised tenders for the provision of Funfair/Circus for the 2015 – 2018 seasons within the county at the following locations;
- Tymon Regional Park, Tallaght
- Corkagh Regional Park, Clondalkin
- Griffeen Valley Regional Park, Esker, Lucan
There was one successful tender received for the provision of a funfair at the above sites. There were no submissions received in relation to the Circus tender.
While the successful tender met with the obligations and responsibilities of the temporary letting agreement (eg including the notification of the propssed dates, security / event management plans etc) the Council has become aware of difficulties in relation to crowd control and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the funfair.
The Council has had preliminary discussions with the Superintendent of the Lucan District and the owner of the funfair with regard to concerns expressed by Councillors and Community / Residents.
While the Council could examine revoking the temporary licence for use of this location for 2018, there may be contractoral issues to be considered.
A full debriefing is currently being arranged. This debriefing will allow for reflection on the recent experience, discuss what elements worked well / didn't work well and identify possible opportunities for improvement.
As previously outlined, feedback in relation to suitable locations for temporary Fun Fairs and / or suggested alternative family oriented events for our parks are always welcome.