‘It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed’
By Mary Dennehy
BANCROFT Park is the latest area to be plagued by an invasion of scramblers and quads, which are not only destroying the local amenity but “deliberately” driving at speed near residents and children.
The use of scramblers and quads in estates is a long-standing issue, with the presence of these vehicles in residential settings endangering lives, creating noise pollution, causing intimidation and destroying public spaces.
Scrambler issues at Bancroft Park
However, despite the issue being top of the community’s agenda for some time, nothing has been done to curtail this activity – with these bikes and their riders continuing to cause undue damage and stress for many communities.
In Bancroft Park, the use of quads and scramblers is negatively impacting on all park users, including sports clubs, and those living and working in close vicinity.
On May 21, a detailed email was sent to Tallaght Superintendent Ian Lackey by a resident, who is a member of the Bancroft Residents’ Association.
In the email, which seen by The Echo also cc’d a number of council officials, the resident wrote: “Over the last few months we have been subjected to an intolerable amount of vicious anti-social behaviour.
“This is mainly manifesting in the invasion of scrambler motor bikes and quads who have taken to the park virtually every day and [are] subjecting the residents to a frightening amount of threatening behaviour by deliberately driving at speed up close to people walking and children playing and walking home from school.”
Physical threats
The resident also claims that when locals confront the riders, they are subjected to “vile language and physical threats”.
In the email sent to Super Lackey, it is also suggested that “local gardai are not taking [the issue of quads and scramblers] seriously”.
“It is only a matter of time before there is someone seriously injured or killed,” the resident wrote.
“Is a tragedy like this needed before we try and stop this disgusting behaviour?”
When contacted by The Echo, the resident said that the community wants to work with the authorities to find a solution.
Our community
“This is our community, and it is a community problem,” he said.
“It won’t be solved alone by the gardai, the council, local sports clubs or residents but it can be solved by all of us working together.
“People are sick and tired of hearing ‘there’s nothing we can do’.
“There is something we can do and if we work together we can take back our park.”
Gardai at Tallaght are working with the council and elected representatives in relation to the issue of scramblers and quads.
However, a Garda comment on Bancroft Park was unavailable at the time of The Echo going to print.
