Golf Club furious over removal of signs
By Aideen O'Flaherty
A RURAL golf club has been left frustrated by South Dublin County Council’s decision to remove four signs that directed motorists to their club – with the signs having been in place for over 30 years before they were removed.
The council removed signs directing motorists to the Brittas-based Slade Valley Golf Club a year ago, and the club’s subsequent attempts to get the signs reinstated have so far been unsuccessful.
Slade Valley Golf Club in Saggart
The issue was also raised by Independent councillor Mick Duff at a recent meeting of the Tallaght Area Committee.
Cllr Duff asked why the signs “were removed by South Dublin County Council without prior notice to the Club Committee, and could the signs be returned to the club, which has a substantial membership of men and women from the Tallaght area?”
The council explained that the signs were removed as a result of the implementation of a new Wayfinding Policy in Saggart village and its environs, and that four “illegal signs” belonging to the club were removed during this exercise.
Niall Tallon, the President of Slade Valley Golf Club, told The Echo: “We got a call from South Dublin County Council about 12 months ago, where they said they had the signs and we were given a short timeframe to collect them, and it cost €50 for each sign to be claimed.
“I find it very strange that they decided to implement this new policy without telling us – those signs have been up for 30 years.
“We could’ve reached some agreement if they had contacted us in advance and had some sort of dialogue with us.”
According to Mr Tallon, over the last number of months visitors to the club have at times found it difficult to find, and have queried why there are no signs in place to help them find the club.
“Slade Valley Golf Club is a difficult place to find unless you know exactly where you’re going,” explained Mr Tallon, “and visitors over the last number of months have said it’s a difficult place to find, and have asked us why we don’t have signs.
“We rely a huge amount on visitors coming to the club, it’s a big part of our business model.
“The club members are very frustrated about it, because they know the signs have been there for years. It hasn’t gone down well.”
The club has since tried to get the signs put back up, but Mr Tallon said that despite numerous attempts to get them back in situ they feel as though they have “been blocked” from doing so.
In response to Cllr Duff’s question about the removal of the signs, the council stated, in part, that: “Four illegal signs belonging to the Slade Valley Golf Club were removed from the Saggart area.
“The business was contacted and notified of council’s intention to keep the signs until they were claimed and or subsequently disposed of if not reclaimed as per letter issued to them by the council.
“While it is acknowledged that businesses such as Slade Valley Golf Club could have been notified before their signages are removed from public roads, the council also understand that it is important that we recognise the efforts of the businesses that have acted responsibly by contacting, following protocol as set out in the Wayfinding Policy which was adopted by the members.”
TAGS Tallaght
