Council welds park gates shut

CONCERNS have been raised over Dublin City Council’s decision to close off an entrance to Balcurris Park, Ballymun, due to vandalism that resulted in severe damage to the entrance’s double gates.

The council said a decision to weld the gates shut was carried out to prevent access and further damage to the park by stolen vehicles that are sometimes found burned out in the park’s grounds.

However, local man Colin Farrell said he is concerned that blocking the entrance will hinder vehicular access to the park in cases of an emergency.

“If there’s an accident in the park there’s going to be major difficulties for ambulances or fire brigades to get in,

? he claimed.

“People playing rugby or walking their dogs use the park. Anything could happen and it would be too difficult for emergency services to help. The council have placed a huge boulder in front of one of the main entrances and welded the gate shut.

“The pedestrian entrance is too narrow so I don’t understand how emergency services will be able to get trolleys into the park if a person has to be taken out of the park on one.

?

Mr Farrell said other entrances to the park that would be suitable for vehicular access in the event of an emergency are locked throughout the week.

“The other gates are padlocked which would make it very difficult for ambulances to get through if there was an emergency. The park doesn’t have a warden either so getting someone to open the gates would be difficult.

?

However, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the remaining entrances to the park provide adequate vehicular access for emergency and maintenance vehicles.

The spokesperson added that gardai and the teams with playing pitch lettings are being provided with keys to access the park.

Mr Farrell agreed that the park has been plagued by vandalism but argued that the absence of a park warden has contributed to anti-social behaviour.

“We were promised a park warden when the park opened but that hasn’t happened. Most nights there are fires there and some people would be intimidated to walk through it. We need someone to monitor the park and report these incidents.

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Cllr Steve Wrenn (Lab) said he would be highlighting the need for a warden at the park at the next Ballymun Local Area Committee.

“I am aware of high levels of anti-social behaviour at the park and understand that it is often difficult for gardai to catch those responsible due to the park’s environment,

? he said.

“I can’t fault the gardai’s response to anti-social behaviour at the park as they’ve been doing everything they can to tackle the problems. I understand there are plans to put a warden in place and that’s something I’ll be following up.

?