Funding for parks will help alleviate anti-social behaviour
By Aura McMenamin
ST CUTHBERT'S Park in Clondalkin has received funding to reinforce its boundary wall, as the reported burning of cars and use of scrambler bikes for antisocial behaviour in the park has increased.
At the March monthly meeting, South Dublin County Council provided an estimated figure of €245,000 to be used between three parks in their Public Realm and Water Services Works Programme 2018.
St Cuthbert's Park has seen an increase in anti-social behaviour issues
The three parks are Clondalkin Park, St Cuthbert’s Park and Jobstown Park and the funding will cover the resurfacing of car parks, boundary and access improvements.
According to Sinn Fein councillor for Clondalkin, Mark Ward, the boundary wall will be reinforced between the Deansrath Park and Melrose Green areas.
Councillor Ward said he hoped that the reinforcement of the boundary wall at the proposed area, which is a key entry point for scramblers, will help alleviate the ongoing antisocial behaviour in the park.
Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan said in the Dáil this week that he would consider additional legislation to tackle use of quad bikes and scramblers for antisocial behaviour.
Fear and sense of abandonment
He said: “The issues in St Cuthbert’s Park are increasing. I am getting more phone calls from residents on a daily basis who feel in fear and also a sense of abandonment.
“The issues reported to me are scramblers, intimidation, stolen and burnt out cars, damage to public and private property, open drug dealing, general anti-social behaviour and illegal dumping.”
According to Cllr Ward, drug dealers dealing in the park are using scramblers and had knocked down lamp posts to evade detection at night.
He said: “The use of scramblers to carry drugs is well known in this area and Garda are finding it difficult to challenge this. Maybe it’s time for Garda to use scramblers and quads themselves to tackle this issue.”
There is a high-level task force meeting today (March 15) to deal with the ongoing issues. The task force is made up of senior officials, senior gardai, publics reps and the community safety forum.
Friends of St Cuthbert’s Park was set up last year by locals and stakeholders who wanted to reclaim the park from the scourge of anti-social behaviour, however The Echo understands that meetings between the group and officials have been infrequent.
