COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 09, 2021

QUESTION NO. 3

QUESTION: Councillor L. Donaghy

To ask the Chief Executive to outline a timeline for the removal of 'kissing gates' from the parks and public spaces in Rathfarnham-Templeogue and Firhouse-Bohernabreena? New powers have been made available to An Garda Siochana to enforce the law on scramblers in public spaces, which changes the case for retention of kissing gates. As long as kissing gates remain in place, our excellent public spaces are less accessible to other residents, including wheelchair users, prams and bicycle users.

REPLY:

In relation to a previous ACM item on this matter requesting an update and timeline in relation to alternative solutions for kissing gates currently installed in our public parks, the response copied below was given.  A design for an 'adjustable' kissing gate has now been prepared and it is proposed to have one fabricated and installed on a trial basis in Tymon Park.  A number of kissing gates at entrances to Dodder Valley Park were vandalised in recent weeks with the swing gates removed from the mechanism.  This resulted in complaints from local residents and elected representatives that scramblers had returned to the park as a result, and requesting that the kissing gates be repaired.  It would appear from these recent events that scramblers will return to Dodder Valley Park if the kissing gates are either removed or modified for easier access.

  

South Dublin County Council is committed to providing universal access for all to it's parks and amenities and in most of the facilities in the County this is the case.  There are a number of locations where this open access has been abused by a very small minority operating scrambler motorbikes and quad bikes in parks in contravention of the Park Bye Laws for the County.  In relation to a number of locations where this activity has been prevalent local residents and elected members have asked that the Council take action to deter this behaviour, and this led to the installation of some kissing gates at Dodder Valley Park earlier this year. 

The Council's Public Realm Section has been examining this matter with regard to the possible provision of a gate which could provide open access for the most part, but which could be altered to act as a kissing gate when the need arises.  A number of options are being considered in this regard and it is expected that one of these will be installed on a trial basis early in 2021.