Agenda item

Motion 1 from Councillor Dermot Lacey

This Committee requests the Manager to examine the issues raised in the email submitted with this Motion seeking to develop a fairer and more transparent parking/no parking regime at this location on Beach Road, Sandymount.

 

Details

I wonder if you could take up this issue with DCC.

 

There is a section on the Beach Road in Sandymount, opposite the entrance to the beach and Sean Moore Park where unsuspecting visitors are being unfairly clamped. I feel very sorry for visitors with young kids having their day trip end with having to call the clampers and facing a hefty fine.

 

The reason they are being clamped is apparently one is not allowed to park where there is a continuous line in the centre of the road coming up to a junction. See beside the red line on the attached. I never knew this. Did you?

 

There is a double yellow line on the bend (Marked) but does not continue down alone where parking is not permitted. There is no sign that highlights that parking is not permitted at any time.

 

It seems very unfair to catch people out without warning. Most of the people who park here are people visiting.

 

There are a number of solutions.

 

·         The double yellow line could continue to the area where parking is not permitted.

 

·         A sign (s) could be installed telling people that parking is prohibited.

 

·         The centre line could be reduced (it seems unnecessary long) which would create much needed parking and the double yellow line could continue parallel to a shorter centre line.

 

While these are being considered the clampers could be asked to avoid this stretch of road

 

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 2 from Councillor Dermot Lacey and James Geoghegan

Recognizing the urgent need to ensure the safety of all but particularly children this Committee requests an urgent and speedy response to the issues raised in the email submitted with this Motion relating to access/parking and related matters at the Montessori School at Dodder Walk, Milltown.

 

Details

I want to raise a major safety concern with the area outside the entrance to Minerva Montessori on Dodder Walk/ Milltown Road/ Dartry Road. I (and every other parent that I have spoken to) find it to be an incredibly dangerous and hostile environment to drop off and collect children each day. I have talked to the Montessori owner (Name Redacted), about our concerns. She agrees with us and is supportive of my proposal below.  

I am aware that there is a plan for this area as part of the Dodder Greenway scheme but I don't think we can wait any longer to make it safe. 

 

These are my main concerns (please see photos attached): 

 

·      There are two entrances to the Montessori (door and big gate beside it). The door leads directly on to a car parking space and the gate leads on to double yellow lines (where cars regularly park). I can't think of any other school/Montessori where children can walk out the main door and straight into parked or moving cars - there is always some kind of barrier (even if it's just a metal fence). Cars are moving in and out of these spaces all morning while very small children are coming in and out of the Montessori. 

 

·      Cars can enter and exit from two points on to Dodder Walk from Milltown Road/Dartry Road. This means that there is generally a crush of cars manoeuvring around a very tight space while carers and children are trying to navigate to and from the entrance. 

 

·      There are two very narrow pavements on either side of Dodder Walk. You can barely fit a buggy on parts of them. On the side of the Montessori, the pavement abruptly ends as you walk down the hill.

 

·      Milltown Road is a busy, fast and dangerous road. Motorists are often breaking the speed limit. The Montessori is located at the bend on this road. 

 

·      The Montessori is at the top of a very steep hill (Dodder Walk). There is a bend on this hill, so you do not always know if a car is coming. Incredibly, the speed limit on this hill is 30km/hour. Cars are up and down this hill at all hours of the day in order to access the park at the bottom. There are also construction vans and bin lorries regularly up and down the hill (often reversing) to service the row of houses near the park.

 

It is a matter of time before there is an accident, particularly as more and more parents are choosing to cycle and walk their kids to school. We are always on a bike (as are many other parents) and as a result, we feel much closer to these dangers. 

Proposal: at an absolute minimum, the car parking space (and part of the double yellow line) outside the two entrances (big gate and main door) need to be blocked off ASAP. The space outside the large gate is already a double yellow line (although cars park here all the time) so it would only mean losing one parking space. This can be done by way of a parklet - a series of planters or barriers which not only stop cars parking but will create a safe space for kids and parents to congregate as they leave and enter the building. This will significantly improve safety outside the Montessori. 

I have a lot more thoughts on how to improve safety and would love to discuss these at a later point (and I appreciate that the Dodder Greenway plans will address a lot of this). For now, a very simple measure like removing one parking space and creating a barrier will make it so much safer (and a whole lot more pleasant) for us all. 

 

I really hope that I have your support and I look forward to hearing from you. 

 

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 3 from Councillor Eoin Hayes

The South East Area Committee of Dublin City Council calls on the Minister for Defence and Cabinet to redevelop Cathal Brugha Barracks, one of the largest state-owned land banks in Dublin City Council's boundaries, for the purposes of badly-needed housing development and community amenities such as sports facilities for the surrounding community.

 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 4 from Councillor Punam Rane

That the Chief Executive provides for traffic wardens across all school zones in the Kimmage-Rathmines LEA, as winter is approaching and days are getting shorter and darker, so to maintain a safer environment for kids on the street, there is a requirement for traffic wardens

 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 5 from Councillor Danny Byrne

That this area committee explore options open to us relating to the use of Merrion square and other parks which are seeing an increased commercialisation and being less available to the public.

 

Order: Noted.

 

Motion 6 from Councillors Fiona Connelly, Pat Dunne and Carolyn Moore

Can the area committee write to the parks and roads to progress the plans and commitments previously made to facilitate wheelchair access to the Clonmacnoise Green in Crumlin? Would an onsite meeting be of value to expedite these improvements that have previously been raised and agreed at this committee?

 

Order: Report to Councillor.

 

Motion 7 from Councillor Fiona Connelly

Can this committee write to the Secretary of Department of Defence and indeed the Minister for Defence to request a meeting with the premise of asking that they give DCC the two playing fields to manage so that DCC can maximise their use and we can address somewhat the shortage of playing fields in the area.

 

Order: Agreed.

 

Motion 8 from Councillor Fiona Connelly

In order to maintain progress and understand what is happening at the development of the primary care centre at Gullistan Terrace in Rathmines  I would like to propose that regular updates are delivered to the SEA committee meeting each month or if more suitable a working group be established.

 

Order: Noted.