Park has become quite ‘neglected and downtrodden’

THE Castle Park side of Bancroft Park in Tallaght has become “quite neglected and downtrodden”, according to a councillor who is calling for work to be carried out on the green space.

Cllr Teresa Costello (FF) raised the topic at a Tallaght Area Committee meeting last week, where she detailed how the area has become unkempt and is a magnet for fires being lit.

Referring to the park as the other name it’s known by, the 30 Acres, Cllr Costello said: “I regularly walk my dog down the 30 Acres.

“There’s just a part at the Castle Park side of it that has become quite neglected and downtrodden.

“It actually doesn’t even look safe, as such. It’s just such a pity, because the Bancroft end looks great and it gets such use.

“One thing that really disturbs me is the habit of people standing around fires on the gaelic pitch [in the park], I’m not sure how much use [the pitch] gets.

“I just think, for the community, it’s actually very disappointing that it looks like this.”

Cllr Mick Duff (Ind) supported Cllr Costello’s motion and acknowledged that there had been some upgrade works to the park but felt that more needed to be done.

“We were told some time ago that an upgrade was coming to the entire park, and we know we have facilities up on the Bancroft/Greenhills Road end.

been some very good work behind the new library and the new bridge, there’s still work to be done and there are still things we are looking for to happen.”

He added: “Let’s test the water and put some seating into it and make it a little more accommodating, because [the community] deserves it – it’s one of the oldest areas in Tallaght.”

A member of council management told the councillors at the meeting that waste such as trollies and broken glass had been removed from the Castle Park side of the park.

“The park itself probably looks a bit untidy because the grass cutting hasn’t kicked off,” said the manager.

“The area is very, very wet and we can’t get the grass cut at the moment, especially within the park.

“I do think that will make a slight improvement to the area, once the grass is cut.

“Some of the meadows in there would still need to be cut as well, that is a factor in why it mightn’t look as well as it should.”

The council noted that “many improvements have occurred in the park in recent times” including the creation of a teen space and the installation of a playspace.

Other improvements include the construction of a new walking loop around the river at the Tymon North end of the park, and the construction of a new footpath from Castle Park estate linking with the walking loop.

The local authority also stated that there had been enhancements at the entrance at Castletymon Library and significant boundary and entrance enhancements to stop cars and scramblers entering the park.