News

Question: Councillor D. Smith “To ask the Chief Executive to provide a go slow sign on Glen Ellen Green at a suitable site in agreement with the residents association?”

Reply: In general Fingal County Council does not provide ‘Slow Down’ signs on roads in residential areas. However ‘Children at play’ signs are placed in residential areas to advise motorists to reduce speed. A ‘Children at Play’ sign is in place at the entrance to Glen Ellan Estate, Swords and it is not considered appropriate to provide additional ‘Children at Play’ signage for individual roads on the estate. Issues of speeding or dangerous driving should be reported to An Garda Siochana who are the enforcement authority.

Question: Councillor D. Smith – Ward Rivervalley Plan “To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the Ward Rivervalley Masterplan and any works associated with same?”

Reply: Work on the preparation of an overall plan for the Ward River Valley Regional Park has commenced. A draft plan will be brought to the Area Committee later in 2016 for discussion in advance of a formal public consultation process.

Question: Councillor D. Smith: Dog Parks. “To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the provision of “off lead” Dog Parks in the Swords area and if such areas will be provided in the calendar year 2016?”

Reply: The Council has recently approved an Open Space Strategy for Fingal which recommends revising the Parks and Open Space Bye-laws to provide for off-leash areas and times for dogs. The draft revised bye-laws will be brought to the Planning Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) later this month in advance of these Bye-Laws proceeding to public consultation for formal adoption. It is anticipated that when adopted these Bye-laws will lead to the designation of off-leash areas and times later this year.

Question: Councillor D. Smith: . “To ask the Chief Executive to outline the differences in design to the modular houses planned for Balbriggan against the modular houses being delivered in the Poppintree area of Dublin City Council?”

Reply: As a National Framework overseen by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is to be used to procure modular housing, which Fingal County Council will be availing of, it is not possible to say yet what design differences, if any, there will be between units in Poppintree and Balbriggan.

Motion Councillor D. Smith “That the Council provides a Slow Down sign on Glen Ellan Green to aid safe and slow traffic activity in this large and very busy estate.”

Report: In general Fingal County Council does not provide ‘Slow Down’ signs on roads in residential areas. However ‘Children at play’ signs are placed in residential areas to advise motorists to reduce speed. A ‘Children at Play’ sign is in place at the entrance to Glen Ellan Estate, Swords and it is not considered appropriate to provide additional ‘Children at Play’ signage for individual roads on the estate. Issues of speeding or dangerous driving should be reported to An Gardai Siochana who are the enforcement authority.

Motion: Councillor D. Smith “That the Council erect “Respect Local Residents” signs from Seatown West through Swords Main Street to Pinnock Hill Roundabout and off streets including Seatown Road, Bridge St, Malahide Road and Forrest Road to remind people leaving establishments late at night that any excessive noise and activity can adversely affect local residents who live on these streets.”

Report: The retail and leisure profile of Swords Town has altered over recent years and the recent Purple Flag award is recognition of the variety and standards of quality leisure and entertainment offerings available to residents and visitors to the town. It is an unfortunate consequence that with the development of a night-time economy in the town residents in the main streets in Swords may on occasion experience interruptions to a level of night-time quiet which may have been commonplace prior to late-night establishments operating. Where there is an unacceptable level of anti-social noise and behaviour emanating from any particular establishment, this is a matter for An Garda Siochana to address, possibly through the licencing process. The Operations Department will liaise with local Gardai in relation to proposals for “Respect the Residents” signage, and if there is proven effectiveness of such signage, in conjunction with the Gardai and Swords Tidy Towns we will pilot some signs in affected areas.