‘No long term solution’ to anti-social behaviour
By Mary Dennehy
AN ‘INITIAL report’ to identify solutions in relation to anti-social behaviour issues in the vicinity of the Whitestown Stream in Jobstown is due to be presented this month.
As reported in The Echo, ongoing issues with this stretch of the Whitestown Stream have been reported by councillors, residents and environmental groups for some time.
Broken bottles and cans beside Whitestown
Alongside being a beacon for illegal dumping and gangs, the stream and its parkland environment is easily accessed by vehicles – a number of which have ended up burnt-out in the biodiverse waterway.
Speaking with The Echo in early January, local volunteer Wladek Gaj expressed his dismay over the state of the local waterway and its environs, and the impact it has on residents.
Alongside having a negative impact on those living nearby, Wladek also spoke of the detrimental impact these actions have on the stream’s wildlife – after a burnt out car ended up in the biodiverse waterway in early January.
“We know that further down that stream is a fish population, a population of small fish that kingfishers, egrets and herons feed on”, Wladek said.
“Every time a burnt car ends up in the stream, there’s oil, anti-freeze, petrol all flowing down the stream.
A burnt out van in the stream Photos by Wladek Gaj
“It’s just so upsetting.”
A month later in February, Wladek photographed a second vehicle burnt out in the stream, this time a van.
Taking to Facebook, Wladek said that “precious eco systems are being posioned… [due to the council’s] refusal to block off vehicular routes to the stream.”
Speaking with The Echo this week, Wladek said that while the council has responded and taken action in relation to issues there is “no long-term solution”.
Wladek is among a number of people, local residents and enviornmental groups, who regularly clean the Whitestown Stream and the Dodder.
At the Tallaght Area Committee Meeting councillor Louise Dunne (Sinn Fein) and councillor Kieran Mahon (Solidarity) both placed the issue on the agenda.
In his motion, Cllr Mahon asked for the committee’s agreement that action is taken in relation to ‘vehicle access, improvement of the public realm lighting, and effective waste management policies’ at the Jobstown stretch of the stream.
In its reponse, council management said that a commitment was given in January that a headed item report would be presented in March.
The council said: “It is expected that the report to the March meeting will be an initial report to outline issues identified as requiring a solution.”
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