Burnt out cars increase 245% destroying local playing fields
By Mary Dennehy
THE burning issue of cars being set alight on green spaces looks set to continue in 2018, with residents waking up on New Year’s Day to further destruction caused by joyriding and the burning out of cars on community pitches and playing fields.
According to figures provided to The Echo this week, South Dublin County Council experienced a 245 percent increase in reports of burnt out cars in communities in 2017, after reports jumped from 53 in 2016 to 183 last year.
These reports led to the council removing 120 burnt out vehicles and attempting to reinstate or secure areas, all at a cost to local communities.
The danger to public safety, the intimidation and the damage caused by the burning out of cars in communities has been firmly fixed on the council’s agenda.
However, the problem continues to escalate, with the local authority receiving reports of burnt out cars on Killinarden Park, Butler McGee Park, Springfield, and in Old Bawn in the early days of 2018.
Mary Maguire, of the council’s environment, water and climate change section this week told The Echo: “The council is aware of the recent incidents which took place at Killinarden Park, Butler McGee Park and Old Bawn, and arrangements are currently being made for the removal of the vehicles in question.
“In order to prevent further undue damage to the facilities, logistical arrangements are required.”
She added: “In many such cases it is not always possible to reinstate the damage caused due to the intensity and regularity of such events, and in certain limited cases, where absolutely necessary, the availability of pitches are minimised and in isolated areas have had to be withdrawn.
“It is most regrettable that this type of activity continues and due to the level of such anti-social behaviour at Killinarden Park heretofore, there is restricted sporting play there in recent months.”
When asked about the cost this activity has on communities, Ms Maguire said: “It is not possible to give a costing on the removal or impact of these incidents.
“However I can confirm that in recent times the removal of such vehicles have been by private operator, and that the implications of these activities, albeit by a minority of our civic minded citizens are indeed grave, both from a public safety point of view and also in terms of the negative impact on the community open space and playing pitches.”
She added: “Public Realm works have been initiated in attempts to combat this problem e.g. running 1.2 metre high fencing along the side of the green space areas, provision of bollards etc. but these have not stemmed the actions of a minority who continue to engage in anti-social and menacing behaviour.”
