Locals call for bandstand to be demolished

LOCALS in Ballymun are collecting signatures for a petition demanding that a park bandstand used as a drinking den by local gangs be torn down.

Residents say the bandstand in Coultry Park is more like an

“abandoned petrol station

? than a music facility and it regularly attracts anti-social behaviour, especially at weekends.

“It’s only ever used by gangs for drinking, and they light fires in it while they’re there,

? one resident told Northside People.

“After they finish they often come up onto our road and empty out wheelie bins and cause damage. People’s cars have also been vandalised.

?

Residents living around the park are now preparing a petition calling for the bandstand to be removed, which they plan to present to council officials at an upcoming Ballymun Safety Forum meeting.

“We just want it removed. Getting rid of it would solve the problem,

? the resident said.

The residents are doubly frustrated as they have made great strides in improving their area and have entered the national Tidy Towns competition.

However, hanging baskets put up recently as part of their efforts were torn down by teenage thugs returning from drinking sessions in the park and a mural painted by local children was destroyed by fire.

Earlier this year another local resident described what life was like living around the park.

“They treat the bandstand like their local pub,

? the resident said.

“They bring along their own chairs and play music and drink and do whatever else until all hours of the night.

“It’s not just at the weekend but during the week as well. We just don’t know what we’ll wake up to most nights.

“We’ve had our cars and windows smashed; our wheelie bins have been robbed and put under the bandstand where they’re then set on fire.

“The anti-social behaviour is like nothing I’ve ever seen before and I’ve been here a long time.

?

The local added:

“I just can’t understand why the council can’t remove the bandstand as this is at the root of all our problems.

?

Local TD Dessie Ellis (SF) said the residents had suffered enough and needed a solution to the problem.

“These residents shouldn’t have to put up with this,

? he said.

“They’re making great efforts to improve the neighbourhood and this just ruins the hard work they’ve done.

“The bandstand should just be taken down at this stage. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.

?

Coultry Park was built at a cost of e4 million and officially opened in 2006 but within weeks locals were complaining about drug dealing, vandalism and mayhem.

Last year Northside People reported that playing pitches in the park were being continually ripped up by scrambler bikes, quads and joyriders in cars.

When built, the park had three different play areas for toddlers, kids and teenagers and was fitted out with state-of-the-art timber equipment as well as football pitches and an asphalt five-a-side football pitch and basketball court.

There was also a public square to accommodate functions and local events and a pavilion building to provide shelter during bad weather.

Dublin City Council said it was aware of problems in Coultry Park and was working closely with Ballymun Regeneration Ltd and the local gardaí to minimise the impact of incidents.

“Dublin City Council’s parks and landscapes services division carry out repair and maintenance works of the facilities within the park, including the Bandstand, as they arise subject to available resources,

? a spokesperson said.