Fenced-in green space causes anger amongst Old Bawn locals

South Dublin County Council has ordered that a fence erected in Old Bawn be taken down by next Monday and the site restored to its original state.

This comes after residents in Old Bawn raised concerns after a fence was erected on Saturday morning in an area thought to be a public green space .

A trench was recently dug on the same land several weeks ago, but was then subsequently filled in by the local authority – a fence can now be seen at the same spot.

The green space in question is located by the Tymon Bawn Community Centre near Firhouse Road West, and children are sometimes seen playing sports at the site. The council is currently pursuing “urgent enforcement action” and have issued a notice to that affect this week.

However, despite the similarity to astro fencing, the kids won’t be kicking a ball there for now as the area has been cordoned off by a newly erected boundary.

Through a land registry search, the area in question is connected to folio number DN4822F, described as a freehold – the land under this number extends beyond the green space and encompasses several houses in the nearby area.

One local resident noted that the community is unsure what to make of the situation, which has entered a new chapter as the ownership of the land has been called into question.

They said: “There’s a lot of anger and confusion in the community now, because as far as they were concerned, that was public open space.”

When a trench was dug at the site, the council’s Public Realm department had come down to the site to examine the situation.

Works ceased and the greenspace was brought back to its original form, but now the fence has been placed, and it is understood by residents that adverse possession has been claimed over the land.

Adverse possession allows a person to claim legal ownership of land without paying for it, if they occupy it exclusively and without permission.

“People are now concerned that this is going to spin out into other parts, and it’s setting a precedent that there’s a piece of land besides somebody’s house . . . will people start land grabbing beside their own houses or at the back of their own houses?”

Residents are concerned that the fencing erected at the weekend will lead to further development.

Another resident in Oldbawn noted that the local area is not opposed to a development that goes through the established planning process and that transparency and clarity are sought at the moment to provide them with peace of mind.

South Dublin County Council has been contacted by The Echo for comment on the situation.