Newsletter Summer 2011

Lavelle secures action on Lucan Village flooding risk

Cllr. William Lavelle states: “I spent time on Monday night reviewing the flooding and liaising between residents/traders and council workers.

“Rainfall on Monday was equivalent to rainfall on 5th/6th November 2001 when the Griffeen burst its banks and flooded many estates and businesses. The flood prevention and storm water attenuation works carried out along the River Griffeen in recent years have obviously worked so far.

However there was flooding at St Eds/Woodville & on Adamstown Road next to Courtney’s Pub. Drains backed up in the Village and at the Old Rectory. Businesses in Lucan Village were under severe pressure to contain the risk of flooding from over-flowing shores.

At Tuesdays Lucan Area Committee I secured AGREEMENT for my emergency motion seeking a review of the capacity and clearance of storm drains in Lucan Village. Work on the River Liffey flood risk assessment is continuing separately.

Lavelle supports dogs park for Lucan

Cllr. William Lavelle, Fine Gael councillor for Lucan has expressed his support for the provision of a dedicated dogs are in Griffeen Valley Park Lucan.

Cllr. Lavelle states: “I regularly receive complaints regarding dogs running loose in our public parks. Under council bye-laws dogs in parks must be kept on a leash.

“However I am generally supportive of dog-owners’ requests for a dedicated dogs area. I raised this matter at last months Lucan area committee meeting.

In response to William’s question the Parks Department advised:

“The Dog Wardens have also advised that the provision of a dog run would greatly assist them in the enforcement of the Bye-laws relating to the control of dogs in the park. To this end, the draft 2011 Park Bye-laws contain proposed new provisions, specifically providing for the designation of areas in public parks for use as dog runs.

“Following a recent review an area Griffeen Valley Park has been identified as an ideal location for the provision of a dog run.

“It is proposed, subject to securing the necessary resources, to proceed with this project later this year.

Implementation group established to progress recommendations contained in Lavelle parks report

Cllr. William Lavelle, new Vice-Chair of the South Dublin Joint Policing Committee has welcomed the establishment of a new implementation group to progress the recommendations aimed at improving the policing and management of our public parks as contained in the ‘Reclaiming our Parks’ report prepared last year by a group chaired by Cllr. Lavelle. (http://www.williamlavelle.ie/wp-content/uploads/final_report.jpg)

Cllr. Lavelle stated: “Following the recent election, the South Dublin Joint Policing Committee has been reconstituted and I am happy to report that a new implementation group has finally been established to progress the recommendations aimed at improving the policing and management of our public Parks as contained in the ‘Reclaiming our Parks’ report prepared by a group chaired by me last year and published last September.

“Key recommendations which I hope we will be able to progress include:

• Establishment of Park Safety Teams involving council park rangers and community Gardai;

• Expansion of CCTV systems in parks;

• Enhanced Garda policing of parks;

• Measures to increase positive public usage of parks.

“There has already been some welcome progress on some of the matters addressed in our report.

• New updated park bye-laws have been adopted by the council;

• The council Parks department are looking at possibility of installing a timer-controlled electronic locking mechanism on the pedestrian gate to Griffeen Valley Park at Griffeen Glen Park/Elm Green along with measures to prevent scrambler bike access in line with a motion tabled by me at the April 2011 Lucan area committee meeting;

• Newly-installed CCTV in the southern park of Griffeen Valley Park will go live in coming weeks. This CCTV was delivered in conjunction with the green route project which I supported.

Lavelle secures reopening of Finnstown House-Adamstown pedestrian link

William has warmly welcomed the positive deicison of the receiver appoinetd to Finnstown House Hotel to reopen the locked pedestrian gate between the hotel grounds and Adamstown following Cllr. Lavelle’s intervention.

The gate had been locked at the start of Summer at the behest of the court-appointed receiver to the Mansifield–owned hotel.

Cllr. Lavelle states: ”I had been contacted by a large number of Adamstown residents who previsouly used this gate to access the hotel and gym. It’s closure was a blow to many residents.

“I had discussions with hotel management and identifed concerns that existed over the potential creation of a legal right-of-way. I subsequently issued formal correspondance to the receiver clarifiying the legal position with respect to rights-of-way and requesting on behalf of residents that the gate be reopened.

“I am delighted that on foot of my intervention the receiver has now decided to reopen the gate between the hours of 6am and 10pm subject to regular review.. The hotel wrote to me this week (27^th September) advising me of the decision which is most welcome.