Green spaces destroyed after Halloween bonfires
A bonfire between Rossfield and Glenshane on Sunday night

Green spaces destroyed after Halloween bonfires

THERE have been renewed calls for organised Halloween events in the county, as council staff started work this week on removing debris and repairing torched green spaces that were damaged by bonfires on Halloween night.

Over the Halloween weekend, South Dublin County Council deployed all of their available staff and machinery resources to assist in the removal of stockpiled material.

However, there were still a number of bonfires around the county on Halloween night, and council staff have been tasked with repairing the damaged green spaces and removing the burnt debris.

Fianna Fáíl councillor for Tallaght Central, Charlie O’Connor, told The Echo: “I think we need to look again at the message that’s given out, because every year we work hard to get the message across about safety at Halloween and keeping open spaces safe.

“Every year we get that message out, but people at the last minute put stuff out on the open space.

“Then on the Monday after every Halloween we get calls from people asking can the council go out and repair the damaged green space.”

While it’s too early for figures to be released for this year’s Halloween removal, as the process of repairing and removal is still ongoing, in previous years 250 tonnes of bonfire material was removed, and a similar amount of burned material was collected from bonfire sites after Halloween.

“Despite the council’s efforts with the assistance of gardai, there were still quite a few places with bonfires,” added Cllr O’Connor.

“Nobody wants to be a killjoy, and Halloween is an exciting time, but then when you go around on Monday morning you see badly damaged open spaces.

“Destroying public space with bonfires – where’s the sense in that? I’ve reported several damaged sites to the council already, and they will go about repairing them in time.

“But it’s going to be costly, and I’m sure when we get a report about the cost of this it’s going to be a significant figure.

A bonfire in Glenshane

“I’m not saying there shouldn’t be any bonfires, I’m saying they shouldn’t be wrecking open space.”

Organising events and bonfires at county level could be a potential solution to the issue, according to Cllr O’Connor.

Similarly, Sinn Féin councillor Louise Dunne suggested at a recent area committee meeting that consideration should be given to holding a Halloween event in Tallaght Stadium next year in a bid to curtail issues with anti-social behaviour that occurs on October 31.

A South Dublin County Council spokesperson told The Echo that the post-Halloween clean-up process began this week.

“In recent years there have been approximately 300 bonfires across the county and a similar number is expected again this year,” they said.

“It will take three to four weeks to complete the clean-up of all sites, reinstatement where necessary will not be possible until spring of next year.”

The council arranged meetings in advance of Halloween with a number of local councillors, An Garda Siochana and community and residential groups to help identify problematic areas, locations of material stockpiles and with regard to action being taken by An Garda Siochana and the Council in relation to this matter.

The local authority described these meetings, and the multi-departmental approach that was taken, as proving “very successful” this year.

The spokesperson added that the local authority was happy with the level of engagement from local communities this Halloween, particularly in areas where residents “are actively trying to prevent the destruction of their estate open spaces and amenities”.

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