Cllr. Cormac Devlin - Councillor For Dún Laoghaire

UN-BLOCK DRAIN ON

ROCHESTOWN PARK

March 2007

Local Councillor for the area, Cormac Devlin asked the Council to un-block a drain outside #18 Rochestown Park as this drain is not working correctly.

Question:Councillor Cormac Devlin

To ask the Manager to repair the section footpath along Rochestown Park particularly outside #3, #7, #14 & #24 as they are un-safe for pedestrians?

Reply:

These footpaths will have temporary repairs carried out in the next few weeks. They are not on the Footpath Restoration Programme for 2007. However, it may be possible to carry out repairs, if resources become available.

UP-DATE ON THE

SKATEBOARD PARK

FOR

DÚN LAOGHAIRE

February 2007

As the only Councillor who attended the full day long consultation with local skaters, Cormac wants to ensure that all interested parties are kept informed of progress on the Skateboard Park issue. If you would like to be kept informed of the next consultation meeting, please send Cormac an email and he'll keep you informed.

Here is the lastest up-date on the issue from the Council.

Council Report:

The provision of a Skatepark at Monkstown has been under consideration since 2004. As part of this development a feasibility study was presented to the Council and public consultation meetings were held in County Hall in March 2005. Feedback was included in the Architect’s brief for the project.

Following the granting of permission under the Part 8 planning process for the next phase of development at Monkstown Pool and Fitness centre, the Management Board moved the project forward to the final design and tender stage. The notice to tender was advertised in the Irish Times on 7th September 2006 and eight (8) contractors tendered for construction and fit-out contracts. As part of this process the Board undertook further research by visiting sites in Germany and the U.K. and also existing sites in Ireland in order to provide the best long-term facility for the user groups at Monkstown (skaters – bikers – skateboarders). Over 50 sites were visited. A range of equipment was viewed including steel and timber, poured concrete, skatelite, and modular concrete. Discussions were held with the users and designers at most of these sites, to establish best practice in relation to the standards, systems and the learning experiences of local authorities, designers and particularly the user groups.

The product chosen was concrete consisting of power floated floor and the provision of modular concrete units. The units will be manufactured under factory condition thereby ensuring quality control in all aspects of construction, materials and finish. The product has been in use on mainland Europe for 10 years and installed in over 300 skate parks. The equipment met the criteria in relation to low maintenance costs, low noise emission in use, high quality surface, flexibility and design to allow for progression.

It is important to note that there is a variety of skill levels and skating experience developing across the Dublin area to be catered for. It is envisaged that the Skate Park provided at Monkstown will cater for a broad range of people with variety of experience levels from the non-skater to more proficient. It is also the Management’s intention to provide a structural learning experience on site.

Before finalising the layouts it is proposed to organise further consultation meetings, which will be advertised to interested parties as soon as dates are agreed.