Domestic Waste Collections

From March 3rd all domestic waste collection companies will be required to collect bins on the same day in Dublin city.  Following on from the disastrous decision of Dublin City Council to withdraw from the collection of domestic waste and to handover the service to private collectors there have been many problems in the city.  To try and address some of the problems Dublin City Council approved new bye-laws.  The new bye-laws require all waste operators to collect on the same day in any given area.  Certain days have been designated and agreed with the operators for collection of domestic waste in different parts of the city.  These new designated collection days will commence on Monday, 3rd March 2014.  You can view/download a copy of map showing collection days HERE.  Collections will take place in the Navan Road, Cabra, Phibsborough and Glasnevin areas on a Wednesday and the north inner city on Thursdays. The new collection days come into effect on March 3, 2014.  Mary

Ashtown Pelletstown Local Area Plan

At the December 2014 monthly meeting Dublin City Council  the Ashtown Pelletstown Local Area Plan was approved by the elected representatives and it came into effect on 30th December 2012. A final copy of the Ashtown/Pelletstown Local Area Plan is available to view/download here.  Mary

FREE Electrical Waste Collection

WEEE Ireland will hold a FREE electrical waste collection in Tesco Cabra on Saturday 26th of October from 10.00-16.00. Any household item with a plug or battery will be accepted free of charge.  Mary

Reillys Bridge

Work on the €9.8million project to replace Reillys Bridge on Ratoath Road with a fly-over spanning the railway line and canal will continue until the end of 2014. The initial stages of the project would have benefitted from better communication from Irish Rail and Dublin City Council. In response to my request Irish Rail and Dublin City Council attended the October meeting of the Central Area Committee to address concerns over the construction.  At the meeting I proposed three motions: that an independently chaired forum be established to deal with residents concerns, that Dublin City Council put in place a comprehensive traffic management plan to deal with the increased traffic problems during and post construction and that Dublin City Council commence the process of extending the 5+axel ban to Ratoath Road. The three motions were passed. I have since met with the residents and I am working with them, Irish Rail and Dublin City Council to get the forum up and running as soon as possible. In the meantime if residents have any concerns they can contact Irish Rail's community liaison officer Garry Keegan on 1890253555 or Dublin City Council Area Manager Fergus Synnott (01) 222 7410 or drop me an email. Mary

Royal Canal Day

Everyone is invited to the ROYAL CANAL DAY, a dynamic event planned by the Dublin City North Volunteer Centre.  The Royal Canal Day will take place on October the 12th along the banks of the Royal Canal with the main objective being to get local people to come out, have some fun and to clean-up litter all along the Royal Canal from Dublin’s city centre all the way out to Blanchardstown.  There will varioius activities and events related to the canal and its history, such as Walks with Botonist Declan Doogue, Pat Liddy walking tour and Dublin Cycling Campaign social ride.  Further information including the schedule and the meeting points for the canal clean-up can be found on the facebook page or contacting the Centre by tel.872 2622 or email: royalcanalteam@gmail.com.   I encourage as many people as possible to come along and participate in this family friendly event and enjoy the wonderful Royal Canal.  Mary

Pelletstown Local Area Plan

The final draft of the Ashtown – Pelletstown Local Area Plan will be on display to the general public for four weeks from 23rd of September to the 21st October 2013 in the Dublin City Council Area Office, Cabra Road, Dublin 7.  Submissions should be made in writing by the 21st of October 2013 to Dublin City Council, Planning Department, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8 or by email to localareaplan@dublincity.ie , or by completing Comment Sheet at the display. It can also be viewed at Dublin City Council's Finglas Area Office as well as Finglas and Cabra Libraries and on the Dublin City Council website.  Mary

Ashtown

At the June 2013 meeting of Dublin City Council I requested Dublin City Council to renew the yellow box at Martin Savage Estate and the Ashtown road.  I also asked the Manager to arrange to have the road markings on the Ashtown Road and the Ashtown gate re-painted and a yield sign erected at the Ashtown  entrance to the Phoenix Park.  The Manager advised me that "The request for the repainting of the line markings at the above location has been referred to the Traffic Officer for investigation and appropriate action.  In relation to the request for a ‘Yield’ sign at Ashtown Gate, this location is within Fingal County Councils’ administrative area."  The contact for this work is Frank Crowley, Traffic Officer.Tel: 222 2508.  Mary

Phoenix Park Concerts 2013

Event organisers, Festival Republic, have confirmed  the following arrangements for the concerts to be held in the Phoenix Park this summer:
Details of the Event
The events will take place on the Wednesday 10^th, Saturday 13^th and Sunday 14^th of July. The gate times for the events are as follows:

Wednesday 10^th July 2013: 18:00 – 23:00

Saturday 13^th July 2013: 17:00 – 23:00

Sunday 14^th July 2013: 15:00 – 23:00

Safety and Security

Entry into the event is by ticket only, and the event site will be securely fenced. We have been working closely with An Garda Síochána to develop a robust plan to ensure that the site and surrounding residential areas are kept safe and secure. There will be enhanced policing of areas within the Phoenix Park and surrounding residential areas, as well as comprehensive stewarding and signposting to direct attendees into the event.

Festival Republic has committed to provide additional stewards to support An Garda Síochána in the residential areas surrounding the park, along the pedestrian walking routes to the site, and within the Phoenix Park.

An overview of the duties of these stewards is provided below:-

• Spotters for antisocial behaviour feeding back to An Garda Síochána via Event Control
• Spotters for event attendees consuming alcohol in the park feeing back to An Garda Síochána via Event Control
• Directing and providing information to event attendees
• Directing concert goers away from residential areas, feeding back any residents’ concerns.
• Assisting with litter control in residential areas and around the park – spotters for waste contractor i.e. feeding back if any areas external to the event need attention via Event Control. 

 Anti-Social Behaviour

There will be alcohol searching stations set up at each of the main entry points into the Phoenix Park. We will ensure that there is very clear signage, lighting and information on the location of the venue to deter patrons from idling in the local area, and remind them to respect the local residents. There will also be toilets and urinals provided within the park to prevent public urination at the following locations:-

·         Bus and Coach Park

·         Chesterfield Avenue opposite the arena entrance

·         Chesterfield Avenue in  close proximity to Gough Monument

·         Chesterfield Avenue in close proximity to Mountjoy Cross

·         Cabra Gate

·         Ashtown Gate

·         Chapelizod Gate

Litter Waste

Festival Republic aims to reduce the impact our business and our festivals have on the environment. We will make every effort to ensure that litter picking will take place before, during and after the concert to ensure that bottles, cans and other litter is removed from window sills and wherever possible remove litter from outside premises, in the vicinity of the Phoenix Park.

The Event will also provide litter teams to respond to waste generated by the event attendees with particular focus on the following areas; Blackhorse Ave from North Circular Road to the Ashtown Gate, Old Cabra Rd from North Circular Road to the Navan Rd, The Navan Rd to Ashtown Roundabout, Ashtown Roundabout to Ashtown Train Station, North Circular Road, Infirmary Rd, Castleknock Rd, Parkgate St, Conyngham Rd, Chapelizod Rd and areas around the pub on St Laurence’s Road, West County Hotel.

Noise

Live Performance on the concert days will be as follows:-

Wednesday 10^th July: 18:15 – 23:00

Saturday 13^th July: 17:15 – 23:00

Sunday 14^th July: 16:00 – 23:00

In addition sound propagation tests may take place during the times indicated below:

July 8th	Sound checks between 18:00 – 20:00
July 9th	Sound checks between 12:00 – 14:00 and 17:00 – 20:00
July 10th	Sound checks between 10:00 – 12:00
July 12th	Sound checks between 18:00 – 20:00
July 13th	Sound checks between 09:00 – 12:00
July 14th	Sound checks from 13:00 – 15:00

Residents Hotline

Phone Number +353 (0) 1 679 0021 available from 9am to 12 Midnight on the day of each event (10^th, 13^th 14^th July 2013).

A dedicated resident’s hotline number will be available as a facility for residents to call in with any concerns, observations or complaints. Local residents will be encouraged to get in touch at any time and all of their concerns will be comprehensively considered. The hotline will go directly into the event control tent, and will be answered by Festival Republic Event Staff. Where necessary any calls taken can easily be referred to the Security Coordinator, Event Controller or An Garda Síochána.

This facility will be operational from 09:00 – 00:00hrs on each of the event days.

All calls will be recorded and the following details will be noted.

• Name
• Address and postcode
• Complaint
• Action and Resolution
• Telephone number and whether the caller would like to be updated

Roads and Travel

Traffic may be busier at certain times throughout the build period however we will endeavour to minimise disruption to traffic flows.

On the days of the events there will be a road closure in place from Ashtown Roundabout to Phoenix Parkway Roundabout. This will be from 16:00hrs – 00:00hrs on 10^th and 13^th July and from 14:00hrs – 00:00hrs on 14^th July. Access to residential properties will be maintained during this time.

Parking Restrictions within the Park

Parking Restrictions will be in place along the following roads on event days:-

Ø  Chesterfield Avenue – between Mountjoy Cross and Phoenix Monument

Ø  Furze Road

Ø  Ordinance Survey Road – Mountjoy Cross to Upper Glen Road

Ø  Cabra Gate – Mountjoy Cross (North Road)

Ø  Acres Road – from Phoenix Monument to Chaplelizod Gate

Ø  Papal Cross Car Park

Phoenix Park Road and Gate Closure

The road closures are listed hereunder:–

Wednesday 10^th July:

·         North Road from Cabra Gate to Mountjoy Cross - 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Chesterfield Avenue between Mountjoy Cross and the Gough Monument – 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Odd Lamp Road - Closed throughout

·         Ashtown Gate (closed to vehicular traffic only) - 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Cabra Gate (left turn only on entry) - 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

Saturday 13th July:

·         North Road from Cabra Gate to Mountjoy Cross - 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Chesterfield Avenue between Mountjoy Cross and the Gough Monument- 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Odd Lamp Road - Closed throughout.

·         Ashtown Gate (closed to vehicular traffic only) - 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Cabra Gate (left turn only on entry) – 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

Sunday 14th July:

·         North Road from Cabra Gate to Mountjoy Cross - 13:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Chesterfield Avenue between Mountjoy Cross and the Gough Monument - 13:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Odd Lamp Road - Closed throughout.

·         Ashtown Gate - 13:00hrs to 12:30hrs

·         Cabra Gate (left turn only on entry) - 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs

Diversions via Military Road:

This road will be opened to traffic to facilitate the movement of traffic between Park Gate and Castleknock. A contra flow 2 way system will operate on this road, between Gough Roundabout and Mountjoy Cross (including Wellington Road, Military Road) from 15:00hrs to 12:30hrs on Wednesday 10th July and Saturday 13th July and from 13:00hrs and 12:30hrs on Sunday 14th July.

Phoenix Park Pedestrian Gates

All of the main park entrance gates including the Ashtown Gate are planned to remain open to pedestrians throughout.

The following small turnstile pedestrian gates will be closed from 15:00hrs – 12:30hrs on 10^th and 13^th July and from 14:00hrs – 02:30hrs on 14^th July:-

Ø  Cumiskeys Turnstile

Ø  Hole in the Wall Turnstile

Ø  Chapelizod Turnstile

Ø  Islandbridge Turnstile

Ø  Grange Gormans Turnstile

The closure of these pedestrian gates is necessary to ensure public safety, during peak pedestrian flows.

Preferred Access Routes on Event Days  

St Mary’s – For people wishing to access St Marys Hospital the preferred route would be via Chapelizod Gate. Exiting traffic would be on a right turn only and would be directed along Military Road or Upper Glen Road.

Dublin Zoo – For people wishing to access Dublin Zoo the preferred route would be via Park Gate Street or North Circular Road Gate, however with the exception of Ashtown Gate all other park gates will remain open to vehicular traffic.

Phoenix Park Visitors Centre

The Visitor Centre and Playground will remain operational throughout the set up and take down of the event site. On the event days the visitors centre and the playground will open until 3pm on the Wednesday, but will be closed all day Saturday & Sunday.

Kind Regards

Festival Republic

Please use the residents hotline 01 679 0021 available from 9am to 12 Midnight on the day of each event (10th, 13th 14th July 2013) to register any complaints. Thanks, Mary.

Licence Granted Phoenix Park Concerts

Dublin City Council has granted a licence for concerts to be held in the Phoenix Park on July 10th, 13th & 14th 2013. Following the mayhem of the Swedish House Mafia concerts last year residents in the local community strongly opposed any further concerts being held in the Phoenix Park however the Minister with responsibility for the OPW granted permission for the Phoenix Park to be used for concerts again this year.

As Chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee I brought the OPW, DCC, the Gardai and the event organisers to the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee last year to address residents legitimate concerns. The decision yesterday by Dublin City Council to grant a special event licence was made following months of consultation with all stakeholders and preparation or a robust event plan.

Dublin City Council has granted the licence to Festival Republic Limited on behalf of MCD Productions Limited subject to 14 Conditions. The conditions include a robust Security and Garda operations plans, an integrated waste/litter management plan for the Concert Site, the Phoenix Park itself and also the residential areas surrounding the Phoenix Park, a Resident Hotline 01 6790021 will be provided from 9.am to 12 midnight on the day of each concert, temporary portable toilet facilities will be provided outside the Concert site and a fully integrated Traffic Management Plan has been drafted and will be put in place on the days of each Concert.

I welcome the improved arrangements for the event and the provision of a hotline for residents to register any complaints. It is imperative that the event organisers, the Gardai and the OPW get it right this time. Dublin City Council must ensure that the commitments given by the event organisers, Gardai and the OPW are actually delivered and there is no repeat of the horrible scenes from last years concerts. Public order must be maintained at all times and safety of residents and concert goers asserted. Mary

Springfield & Regal Park

In May I asked Dublin City Council to arrange for cul de sac signs to be erected at Springfield and Regal Park entrances on Blackhorse Avenue.  My request was referred to the Traffic Officer and I am pleased that Dublin City Council has erected cul de sac signs at the entrances to both roads. Hopefully this will reduce the number of cars mistakenly turning into these roads.  Mary

Reilly’s Bridge Fly-over

This week Irish Rail announced that work to replace Reillys Bridge on Ratoath Road with a new bridge spanning the railway line and canal is to commence this month and should be completed at the start of 2015. Irish Rail have agreed to provide community liaison for the duration of the works and to work with residents, businesses and other stakeholders to:Undertake a pre-condition survey of properties to verify that works have no effect, inform residents and businesses in advance of the stages of works and provide an ongoing point of contact for local residents and businesses by locall phone number and email as follows:1890253555 and communityliaison@irishrail.ie.  Mary

Local Policing Forum

The next Navan Road & Pelletstown Area Community Policing Forum meeting is on Thursday 13th of June 2013 at 7.00p.m in the Navan Road Parish Hall. This forum is an opportunity for people living and working the area to meet with the Gardai, Dublin City Council and elected representatives to discuss and address issues of concern. As Chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee I encourage people from the area to come along and engage in the these forum meetings which feed into the priorities for the Dublin Central Joint Policing Commitee. Mary

Ashtown Pelletstown Local Area Plan

Dublin City Council has worked with elected representatives and local residents to prepare a Draft Local Area Plan for Ashtown-Pelletstown. The Draft Local Area Plan is on display and available to inspect at The Atrium, Ground Floor, Dublin City Council, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8. I also requested DCC make the plan available for viewing in the Cabra Library, and the Cabra Area Office (97 New Cabra Road, Dublin 7). The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 18th June 2013. Mary

Phoenix Park Concerts

Dublin City Council is considering an APPLICATION for a Special Event Licence to hold concerts in the Phoenix Park this summer. The application is currently available for members of the public to inspect and make an observation or objection. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday 12th April 2013, for more information click HERE.

Following the mayhem of last years Swedish House Mafia Concerts, as Chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee, I brought together the OPW, the Event Organisers, Dublin City Council and the Gardai to review the unfortunate and unacceptable events. Improved protocols and procedures have been agreed by DCC, the OPW, the Event Organisers and the Gardai. As part of these new procedures public consultation meetings are being held to consult with local residents.

A copy of the Licence Application is available to view at the Public Planning counter in DCC Civic Office or at the Visitor Centre Reception in the Phoenix Park. Mary

Phoenix Park Concerts

Dublin City Council is considering an APPLICATION for a Special Event Licence to hold concerts in the Phoenix Park this summer. The application is currently available for members of the public to inspect and make an observation or objection. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Friday 12th April 2013, for more information click HERE.

Following the mayhem of last years Swedish House Mafia Concerts, as Chair of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee, I brought together the OPW, the Event Organisers, Dublin City Council and the Gardai to review the unfortunate and unacceptable events. Improved protocols and procedures have been agreed by DCC, the OPW, the Event Organisers/MCD and the Gardai. As part of these new procedures public consultation meetings are being held to consult with local residents.

There will be an Information/Consultation meetings for the North Circular Road/Navan Road/Blackhorse Road/Castleknock areas on Wednesday the 3rd of April 2013.

The meeting will be held in the Phoenix Park Ashtown Visitor Centre at 7.30pm. Residents Associations, individual local residents and businesses from the Navan Road area are invited to attend to meet with the OPW and representatives of the Promoter. An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council Planning Department are also invited to the meeting.

A copy of the Licence Application is available to view at the Public Planning counter in DCC Civic Office or at the Visitor Centre Reception in the Phoenix Park.  Mary

Rainfall Warning

Dublin City Council has confirmed that Up to 40 millimetres of rain has fallen since yesterday. City Council Drainage staff have been monitoring the drainage network including rivers and streams since yesterday and will continue to do so over the weekend. I have been talking with local residents who were badly affected by the previous flooding in Cabra and the Navan road and so far the improved drainage work that I worked to get the City Council to do to protect their homes is coping well with the heavy rainfall.  If you do want to report flooding please phone 222 2222 or drop me an email.  Stay indoors and stay dry.  Mary

Dunard Avenue

At the March meeting of the Central Area Committee I asked the Manager when will the grass verge on Dunard Avenue be re-instated. Dublin City Council Area Manager replied that the "Damage is as a result of illegal vehicular parking or movement on the grass verge. The damaged area of grass verge will be reinstated over the coming weeks." Mary

Royal Canal

Phoenix Park Concerts

IMPORTANT CHANGE OF DATE

There has been a change of date for Information/Consultation meeting from Thursday 21st March to Wednesday the 3rd of April 2013. 

The meeting will be held in the Phoenix Park Ashtown Visitor Centre at 7.30pm. Residents Associations, individual local residents and businesses from the Navan Road area are invited to attend to meet with the OPW and representatives of the Promoter. An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council Planning Department are also invited to the meeting.

A copy of the Licence Application is available to view at the Public Planning counter in DCC Civic Office or at the Visitor Centre Reception in the Phoenix Park.   Mary

Phoenix Park Concerts

At yesterday's meeting of the Dublin Central Joint Policing Committee Chief Superintendent Coburn of the K district confirmed that the new security and public order protocols are in place and will be adhered to if any concernts are held in the Phoenix Park this summer.  

The Office of Public Works has confirmed that MCD have applied to hold three outdoor concerts in the Phoenix Park on 9th or 11th, 13th and 14th July 2013. The capacity for each of these proposed events is approximately 40k.  I understand the proposed, but not yet confirmed,  acts are The Killers, Mumford & Sons and Justine Timberlake. 

Given the concerns raised following one of last year's concerts, the OPW Events Committee will hold two information/consultation meetings on Thursday 21st March 2013 at Ashtown Visitor Centre, Phoenix Park at 7.30pm and a further meeting on Monday 25th March 2013 also at Ashtown Visitor Centre, Phoenix Park at 7.30 pm.


Residents Associations, individual local residents and businesses are invited to attend to meet with the OPW and representatives of the Promoter. An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council Planning Department are also invited to the meeting.

A copy of the Licence Application is available to view at the Public Planning counter in DCC Civic Office or at the Visitor Centre Reception in the Phoenix Park. I will put up a link to the application as soon as it is on-line. 

Any person may make a written representation/observation to DCC regarding the Licence application within a 5 week period from 8th March onwards.  Mary