COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 08, 2020

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor Clare O'Byrne

To ask the manager what, if any, alternatives are being considered to the standard kissing gates currently being installed in the area.

REPLY:

Unfortunately this Council finds it necessary to control access to parks in many instances in order to prevent access by scrambler motorbikes, quad bikes and stolen cars.  Where these are required there is a possible conflict with providing universal access to the park for users of bicycles, buggies and wheelchairs.  The Council has designed a kissing gate which gives maximum space to a legitimate user of the park passing through it.  It is currently being examined if this design can be modified to include a lockable/unlockable section which when unlocked can be moved to allow access for larger items.  What this would mean is that the adjustable section can be locked when scramblers need to be kept out, but it can be unlocked at times when there is no issue with scramblers.  It is hoped that this design can be finalised and trialled in the near future.