The Echo Year In Review September 2016: Door-to-door collections, bus strikes and burnt-out cars
By Maurice Garvey
September is always a hectic month in the calendar, with councils back in session for public meetings, politicians returning to the Dáil after the summer break, schools re-opening, and general mayhem across the board.
But it is also a month which shone a spotlight on the many goodwill ventures and initiatives which residents across the county are involved with.
Parents highlighted the struggle at finding pre-school places for children with autism across the county – an issue that remains acutely difficult as EECE places continue to grow.
A young boy cut his finger on a syringe in Weaver Court in Clondalkin – leading to calls by parents for health and safety measures to be implemented at the Neilstown estate.
Lucan gardaí cracked down on the proliferation of “chancers” trying to scam money with bogus door-to-door collections – arresting seven youths in the space of a month.
Objections were lodged by residents for 3,000 apartments in Cookstown Industrial Estate – plans which were subsequently rejected by the council.
Dublin Bus strikes caused havoc with commuters forced to find alternative modes of transport, with one Ballyfermot school operating a free bus service to ensure students didn’t miss out.
Dublin City Council staff were threatened and intimidated as they tried to remove burnt-out cars from a vandalised site – a site proposed for modular housing in Cherry Orchard. The council denied allegations that men with criminal backgrounds were hired for security detail.
Lidl received planning permission for its sixth Tallaght store at the Belgard Inn overflow carpark.
A 28-year-old driver who has nine life bans for no insurance was jailed for five months, fined €1,250 and given a 10-year ban by Tallaght Court.
Hundreds gathered at St Anne’s GAA Club to celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day.
The owners of Liffey Valley Shopping Centre appealed to An Bord Pleanála contesting requests by the council that they pay €5 million for local road works, for a major development at the site, including proposals for an Olympic-sized indoor arena.
Local Tidy Town groups were once again a credit to their communities, increasing their scores in the National Tidy Towns competition.
Groups in Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown, Old Bawn and Woodstown, impressed judges with their sterling work throughout the year.
