€164,500 spent to erect fence around park
By Hayden Moore
THE COUNCIL have spent €164,500 on erecting a fence around a local park in an effort to stop scramblers destroying the greenspace but have admitted that scramblers can still gain access.
South Dublin County Council stated that it is still possible to lift a bike over the railing to gain access to Butler McGee Park and that “it may be possible to get a very small scrambler past the barrier” – even after erecting the railing.
The council spent €164,500 to erect a fence around McGee Park
Over the past several years, scrambler bikes and stolen cars have been able to gain unhindered access to the field located in between Fettercairn and Springfield.
These issues have plagued sports teams in Marks Celtic FC and St Mark’s GAA Club, destroying their pitches, and driving through children’s training sessions and matches.
In a statement to The Echo, a spokesperson from the council revealed that a “total of approximately €164,500 has been spent” over the last three years erecting the 1500m railing on top of a low wall around Butler McGee Park.
“Since the completion of the railing in 2020 the incidences of this nature have reduced greatly,” the spokesperson told The Echo.
“On occasions park entrance gates have been vandalised in order to create a wider access, the Council’s Public Realm Section endeavours to respond and close these off immediately as soon as we are aware of them.
The council spent €164,500 to erect a fence around McGee Park
“It is also possible that from time to time scrambler motorbikes may enter the park, the entrance gates are designed to keep them out however it may be possible to get a very small scrambler past the barrier on occasions, and it may also be possible for a large number of people to lift a bike over the railing to gain access.
“The Council continues to meet local representatives and stakeholders and will review all the relevant issues relating to this matter.”
Not related to the issue of scramblers, new footpaths were also overlayed in Butler McGee Park in 2019 at a cost of €30,000 as part of the council’s annual improvement works scheme.
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