COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor Alan Edge

That the feasibility of replacing the bollards currently dividing Allenton estate with automatic rising bollards be explored to facilitate emergency vehicles, bin lorries etc.

REPORT:

There are two lines of permanent Bollards at the western end of the Allenton estate. These were installed to avoid rat running of through traffic between the north and south section of Allenton.

The SDCC experience of Automatic Bollards is a negative one. One example is on the N7 Bus Gate.  The Bollards were hit several times, damaging the piston mechanism and leading continuous expensive replacement of the Bollards. Eventually these Bollards were removed See attached picture of this location.

The second reason is one of key/fob control and maintenance.   These work best in situations where there is a management company with undevided responsibility for each estate to control the key management (to Bin Lorry operators or the emergency services). Also these are easily damaged and expensive to replace.  SDCC is not in a position to roll our these installations in the County with the inherent problems I have talked about.

The advantages these sinking bollards would bring to this particular situation is limited.  There are three access roads to the Allenton Estate - two serving the northern part of Allenton and one serving southern part of Allenton. It is simply quicker for an emergency vehicle to access the most appropriate access junction than to have a through connection at the existing closures.  The Bin Lorries have turning areas available for turn around.

The initial expense, the ongoing maintance expense and their limited utility as an emergency vehicle measure at this location make this proposal unjustifiable.