‘Prisoners in our own homes’

SOUTHSIDE residents have described how a series of concerts in Marlay Park has left them feeling like prisoners in their own homes.

Locals living in Rathfarnham say they are furious after permission was granted for the go-ahead of eight big gigs at the popular park this summer.

On Thursday night the Grammy-winning artist Macklemore, who is one half of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, enter­­- tained 37,000 fans at Marlay Park.

The park was again the venue when the Arctic Monkeys played on Saturday night and last month Marlay hosted performances by big acts including Arcade Fire.

Now, locals are up in arms over disruption to residents caused by the Marlay Park concerts.

“Originally, there were just a few concerts held each year and, despite the disruption and anti-social behaviour, we were tolerant enough,

? said Fiona Murdoch.

“But this year there are no less than eight concerts taking place, including stand alone concerts on June 29 and July 2, 4, 10, 12 and the three-day Longitudinal Festival from July 18 to 20.

“Gardaí man the entrance to about half a dozen local estates from 11am on the day of the gigs and sound checks take place from that time too.

“Concertgoers descend on the area anytime from midday and hang around the area drinking until gates open. Some days gates open at 5.30pm but other days concerts start as early as 3pm.

“Once a concert starts, we sometimes can’t sit out in the garden and talk as we can’t hear each other. Sitting indoors with doors and windows tight shut, we can still hear the music whether we want to or not, not to mention feel the thud, thud of the bass.

“Three concerts each summer was tolerable but eight is way too much,

? Ms Murdoch added.

“From 11am on the day of each concert we feel like prisoners in our own homes.

“Not only are we subject to noise pollution, but if we leave our homes in our cars we wonder how long it will take for us to get home, if we can get home.

“And then for two hours at the end of each concert a section of Grange Road is closed and traffic in the surrounding areas is gridlocked.

“So we can’t go out those eight evenings and neither can we invite anyone to our homes as they would have a nightmare time trying to get to us, not to mention returning home.

?

Ms Murdoch’s neighbour Veronica O’Doherty added: “I love music and concerts and still go to the odd few. I tolerated three every year in Marlay. But eight this year is really awful.

“Apart from traffic disruptions and urinating and all that side of it, my main issue is the level of noise for each concert, which seems to last now for about eight hours.

“The noise is not pleasurable, as it would be for those at the gigs, but rather it’s a continuous loud thudding bass that invades your home with no escape.

“I have windows and doors shut and still cannot hear my TV properly.

“During the day I had my mum up when the weather was nice and in the garden we couldn’t even hear ourselves talk.

?

She added: “Surely I and other people who live here should be able to live in their homes without this relentless invasion of unwanted noise.

“I coped with three a year pretty good-humoredly but more than three is doing my head in and eight is intolerable. It ends with three days of it non-stop from 3pm to 11pm with the Longitude Festival.

“Marley Park is in the middle of a huge residential area with hundreds of families with small children and older people.

“I don’t believe residential areas should be used for large concerts or festivals anyway. They should be held in fields away from where people live or in places like the 02, which are purpose-built.

“I know lots of people who went to the concerts and had an amazing time, but they don’t live here, and I’m sure they’d have an equally great time if the venue was changed.”

A spokesperson for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said the council granted a licence for the holding of events in Marlay Park between June 29 and July 20 (inclusive), subject to 51 conditions.

“The Outdoor Event Licence for the concerts is available to view at the Planning Public Counter, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire and in our Dundrum Office also as well as on our website, www.dlrcoco.ie,

? the council stated.

“Each year, this licence application is advertised in the national and local media and on our website and planning weekly lists.

“Submissions/observations are sought and can be made free of charge within a five week period prior to the licence being considered.

“No submissions/observations were received from the public regarding the 2014 series of concerts.

“The council consults closely with prescribed bodies including An Garda Síochana, Dublin Fire Brigade, the Health Service Executive and Emergency Response unit, HSE and the Environmental Health Office, Air and Noise Unit as part of the licence process and receives and includes their specialist advice/conditions in the licence.

“The council has an excellent relationship with the local residents’ associations whom it works closely with to ensure the concerns of their members are taken on board.

?

The council added:

“As with an major event or events, health and safety both for concert goers and residents is paramount.

“If it appears to the gardaí that it is necessary in the interests of safety or for the purpose of preserving order to restrict the access of persons to a place where an event is taking or is about to take place which attracts, or is likely to attract, a large assembly of persons, they may give authorisation to erect or cause to be erected a barrier or a series of barriers on any road, street, lane, alley or other means of access to such a place in a position not more than one mile there from for the purpose of regulating the access of persons or vehicles thereto.

“Decisions to close roads at events such as concerts, sporting events, rallies and demonstrations are not taken lightly but are taken in the public interest.

“Gardaí who enforce this order will try to accommodate residents of the area affected as far as possible. Gardaí make every effort to disperse patrons so that we can reopen access routes as soon as possible.

?

The council also stated that in accordance with the licence issued under the Planning & Development Act 2000, the noise level limit for the concerts should not exceed a certain level over a 15-minute period.

“Both the HSE and MCD are monitoring noise levels through daytime sound checks and the evening concerts,

? the council added.

“Artists who breach these levels will be fined for each and every occurrence. This year, the stage has been moved from in front of Marlay House to the other end of the concert site and this may be a cause for increased noise levels for some residents.

“However, readings for all the concerts to date have been well within the limits allowed under the Planning Regulations.

?

The council also stated that the Marlay concerts bring

“much needed revenue which has and is being used for projects in Marlay Park, which have made the park one of the best of its kind in Europe, with improved playground facilities, golf course, an extension to Boland’s coffee shop, trim trails and construction of the all-weather pitch.

“Revenue is being used for the new Marlay Golf Pavilion & Restaurant, the renovation of Tamplins Cottage (which is a protected structure) as well as to assist in the provision of other DLR Events in Marlay – Samhain, Movies in the Park etc,

? the council stated.

“Revenue is also being used to help in the removal of laurel – an invasive species – and this is both time consuming and costly. Future revenue is targeted for a proposed running track, grass pitches and renovation of the craft courtyard.

?

The council has set up a complaints phone number for the public that can be used on the night of any particular concert: (089-2067950 – Festival Republic).

“With regard to anti-social activity occurring outside of Marlay Park, gardaí can be contacted at 01-6666500,

? the spokesperson added.