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SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, March 25, 2024

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor T. Costello

"Can a inspection be undertaken of the 30 Acres and solutions be introduced to improve the safety and asthetics of this park, this is an area with a lot of potential but it has become very run down at the Castlepark end of the park I would suggest Lighting to be installed in the park as many use it and it's very dark in the evenings Rubbish removal the hedge area at the castle park entrance is full of rubbish Drainage - the area near the hedging and along side the football pitch is constantly waterlogged There is rodent infestation , I have reported a rat hole in the pitch Bonfire damage at the pitch area there is 2 areas damaged Broken glass in the field where the pitch is at the Castlepark end Removal of trolleys Removal of rubbish from poodle?"

REPORT:

The Council's Public Realm Section carries out regular maintenance tasks in Bancroft Park including grass cutting, litter picking and general park cleaning and maintenance.  Due due to recent wet weather ground conditions have become very soft and grass cutting has been put on hold until such time as the ground dries up and is suitable for the operation of machinery. The reinstatement of bonfire damage to the pitch which is referred to will occur once the ground conditions have sufficiently improved.

In the coming days Public Realm staff will address a number of the issues raised here including cleaning the hedge, repairing the hole referred to, implementing treatment for rodents, removing broken glass and retrieving any trolleys found in the river. Reports have been received by Park Rangers regarding scramblers entering the park and causing damage however these have been investigated and no evidence has been found of such damage.  The drainage and footpath issues highlighted will be examined further and remedial works will be carried out where necessary.  If this issue persists then further drainage and footpath surfacing works can be considered for inclusion in the 2025 public realm improvements works programme.

Regarding public lighting in parks and open spaces, the Council's policy is to provide lighting only in areas with short pedestrian links between residential areas which promote and provide permeability. This approach aims to avoid attracting individuals into the park during darkness which might potentially invite anti-social behaviour. The installation of lights would also increase the Council's carbon footprint and could possibly disrupt the local ecology, thus warranting careful consideration.

In line with the park management plan many improvements have occurred in the park in recent times and these include the creation of a teen space, the installation of a playspace, construction of a new walking loop around the river at the Tymon North end of the park, the construction of a new footpath from Castlepark estate linking with that walking loop, enhancement of the entrance at Castletymon Library and significant boundary and entrance enhancements to stop cars and scramblers entering the park.