Herbert Park gate opening hours
During the Local Elections campaign the issue of closing/opening the gates at Herbert Park was raised a number of times. While I had no fixed view I was conscious that the official view of the Gardai was to keep some of them open and have raised the matter at successive meetings of the South East Area Policing Committee.
Please find below an extract from the official report issued to us recently on this matter.
“Update in relation to Herbert Park extended open hours as requested.
During the winter/spring of 2011/’12 there were a number of serious vandalism and arson incidents in Herbert Park. At a meeting between Gardaí, DCC Parks Section and Area Office personnel in May 2012 to discuss ways of reducing such incidents it was proposed that the gates of the park could be left open to allow Garda patrols access to the park after normal park closing times.
The Area Committee was notified of this proposal and it was agreed that the gates at the River Dodder side of the park would be left open on a trial basis over a three month period.
A review took place after the time period had lapsed and it was agreed to extend the gate opening into the future. Since gate opening has been in operation there has been a substantial decrease in the level of vandalism and anti-social activity in the park. There is still some evidence of late night drinking in the park, which continues to be monitored by Garda patrols.
Also some local residents were concerned that the gate opening would lead to an increase in public order offences in the local community. However this does not tally with official Garda records for the area.
Donnybrook Garda Station reported that there is no increase in public order offences or crime in the immediate area as a result of the opening of the park at night. There is a general spike in burglaries in the greater Donnybrook area but the area around the park is the least affected by this.
DCC has also removed high shrubbery at the entrance gates which has improved visibility and passive surveillance by the public and also improved the perception of public safety in the park.
Gate opening has also had the benefit of allowing access to the park for users when it would normally have been locked. This has been of particular benefit to the public during the long day-light hours over the summer months and also at weekends throughout the year when the park would only be opened at 10am.”
Should you have any comments in relation to this or require any other assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
