COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM/TEMPLEOGUE/FIRHOUSE/BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

MOTION NO. 3

MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge

That the Chief Executive report on the decision to relocate the Teenspace in Ballycragh Park from its agreed location, detailing: (i) the issue with the previously agreed location and the date it became known (ii) the extent of the assessment of the potential impacts of re-siting the Teenspace to its present location on biodiversity in view of the council's obligations under the National Biodiversity Plan and the county's Biodiversity Action Plan. (iii) The means by which members of the public can consult the relevant documentation mandated under article 81(2)(d)(i) and what recourse is available to them if they seek to challenge the decision to move the Teenspace.

REPORT:

The original Teenspace site in Ballycragh Park was chosen for its high level of passive supervision from the Killinniney Rd and because the area was already being used by teenagers. The typical pattern of use tends to be that once school finishes teenagers gather at the local shop and then move across into the park and congregate at the playground swings. Having the teenspace in the park would give the teenagers a more appropriate facility and free up the playground for younger children to use.

The decision to relocate the teenspace was taken as an Irish water pipeline is due to be laid through the original site proposed for the teenspace.  Public Realm became aware of this on 25th May 2021. At that time Public Realm and our appointed contractor believed that the teenspace could be reorientated and moved closer to the community centre car park.   However, when the detail design was being discussed with the contractor it became apparent that the overhead ESB cables made the site unsuitable, and another site had to be selected. 

Following a number of site visits in June and July it was decided that the only suitable remaining space for the teenspace was directly south of the playground. We worked through a number of design layouts and agreed on the final location and layout on August 5th.  This site is in the busiest part of the park and it benefits from very good passive supervision.  There is also much more space available here and it is not restricted by pitches as the previous site was. It is in an area that will not impact on the nearby residences or affect the southern end of the park which is predominantly used for passive amenity.

It was also considered that the site would not have any adverse effect on biodiversity. Although one part of the teenspace is close to the pond it is crucially not in an area used by the swans or other wildfowl to enter of exit from the pond nor is it in a space used to feed the birds. There was no requirement to remove trees or any other natural features and as the teenspace consists of permeable surfaces there would be no likelihood of runoff into the pond or any negative impacts on water quality. 

One possible impact discussed was the effects of noise and increased footfall.  Any visit to the site shows that the swans are unlikely to be disturbed by these factors. The area around the the existing playground and community centre is the noisiest and most heavily used part of the park.  Even with this high level of activity this is also an area where the swans regularly enter and exit the water and use as a place for resting and preening. This is also an area where they are regularly fed by park users. 

The main impact on wildlife in the park remains dogs off leads and this risk is not considered likely to increase with the teenspace given that it is usually adults who bring dogs into the park.

Although it may seem intuitive that the impact of human activity would be a deterrent to wildfowl and prevent them from using areas around the pond there are several examples around the county such as the lakes in Sean Walsh Park and Tymon Park where very high activity areas and thriving wildlife coexist side by side.

Another possible impact considered was balls from the Teqball table entering the water and disturbing the birds.  The teenspace was orientated to keep the teqball far away from the pond, and separated from it by a large berm.  The hangout space and main seating area with the wifi point and music post are also located away from the pond adjacent to the playground. 

When queried on the decision to locate the teenspace in this area Public Realm sought advice from the Heritage Officer and are confident that the teenspace is located in an appropriate area which will not negatively impact biodiversity in the pond or displace the swans.

The teenspace is sub-threshold for a Part 8 application and therefore article 81(2)(d)(i) does not apply to this project. Members of the public have a number of methods of contacting the Council regarding projects such as this as set out in the Customer Care Charter on SDCC.ie.  Public Realm  were contacted by 2 individuals and responded to both through the Customer Care system and with responses through the membersnet system. The overwhelming response from park users has been very positive and the completion of the teenspace is much anticipated.

Although Public Realm consider that the development is unlikely to have any adverse impact on the birds we have nonetheless sought advice on possible measures to improve the pond and the areas around it for biodiversity.  The Councils Heritage Officer has worked with an expert on swans and wetland habitats in the park for the past 5 years and has asked them to consider any possible measures which would be beneficial to local biodiversity and a report will be forwarded to Public Realm.