Clamps, confusion, amid calls for car park opening
By Mary Dennehy
CALLS have been made for South Dublin County Council to open the public car park built to service a playground in Citywest – with confusion over the parking situation putting families at risk of being clamped.
Despite the playground in Carrigmore being open for the past three years, the dedicated council-owned car park for the community facility has remained closed.
The car park beside the playground in Carrigmore
This situation has, according to councillor Brian Leech, caused confusion in the area – with some families visiting the playground parking in an adjacent car park, which is privately owned.
Cllr Leech (Solidarity) told The Echo: “Carrigmore playground has been open now for more than three years and very welcome it is by the residents and the visitors who go there for a walk in the park or for the children or grandchildren that wish to use the playground.
“The issue here is that there is a designated car park for the playground that has been locked since the playground opened. It only opens for service vehicles to gain entry.
“This makes absolutely no sense for visitors or residents who have to drive and are left in limbo as to where to park.
“If there were issues about the car park for safety reasons they should have been resolved before the park was officially opened three years ago.”
Beside the closed public car park is another car park, which, privately owned, provides additional space for a nearby apartment block.
According to Cllr Leech, a resident visiting the park with their child was clamped while parked in the private area.
‘No signs, nothing’
“There’s no signs, nothing on the council car park,” Cllr Leech said.
“What was the point of this [public] car park?
“What was the point of building it in the first place?
“The council needs to get the car park open and erect signage signalling the open and closing times.”
Cllr Leech raised the issue in council chambers at last week’s Tallaght Area Committee meeting.
In its reply, the council said it would examine the car park at Carrigmore playground to determine what can be done to allow access to the car park by park users – or if any physical works are required to enable this.
“The council wishes to encourage families to use the playground and the park.
“However, it is important to ensure access is not provided for vehicles which may cause damage to the park.
“The car park external to the playground car park is under the remit of the management agency for the development and this is where the clamping took place.”
When contacted by The Echo, a council spokesperson said: “There are two car parks in the vicinity of Carraigmore Park, one owned by the council and one private car park.
“The Council car park does not have a clamping contract in place but does have a barrier which is opened and closed to allow grass cutting and other council vehicles to access the park.
“The Council will examine the need for a public car park at this location and in the meantime erect signage in relation to opening hours of this car park.”
