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WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MOOREFIELD ESTATE????
Moorefield Environmental Group members continue to lobby South Dublin County Council
to fulfil the remedial estate works that were to take place along with the infill houses, ( addressed as Moorefield Grove
and Moorefield Crescent). Group representatives are being constantly questioned by residents as to when the works such
as safety road works, replacement of planters, and boundary wall treatment etc, is going to happen. The group agreed
to send a letter of complaint to S.D.C.C. officials, to our public representatives, An Garda, North Clondalkin Community Safety
Officer, and the RAPID area implementation team. The group agreed that residents should receive a copy of the letter of complaint,
which is self explanatory. The letter is posted below.
" To whom it concerns: - South Dublin County Council (SDCC), RAPID AIT, Elected
Councillors, Dail Deputies, Senators, and An Gardai.
On Tuesday the 21st of February 2006 Moorefield Environment Group (MEG) were again
requested to contact council officials and the residents local elected representatives.
There are residents that still have to continue to put up with unacceptable behaviour
in the vicinity of their homes, that is causing them anxiety, fear, disturbance to their quality of life, and endangering
both safety to themselves, family members, and anyone who wishes to visit them.
It was discussed at the meeting, mentioned above, and with the estate manager
present, that it is not good enough for the local authority not to have completed the works that had been agreed at
public meetings and acknowledged in response to the submission to S.D.C.C. from the MEG of residents, RE: Moorefield Infill
Housing Project.
The residents, both tenants and homeowners, have been both patient and co-operative
with the local authority. It is now just two years since 3.2 million euro was awarded to Moorefield Estate from The Department
of the Environment and local government for tenant's house refurbishment (i.e. approx 75 in total), and estate enhancement.
Also, over a million punts in 1997 was awarded from the same Department for estate enhancements and road calming
measures, not including the funding set aside for laneway closures. The residents also agreed to wait for the removal of the
high rise planters that have been a safety issue for many years, when the Parks Department were to remove same last summer
(2005).
Complaints to date received from residents are as follows:-
- Boundary walls belonging to home purchasers have been trepassed on by construction
workers without prior agreement.
- Brackets to secure the new infill housing walls have been inserted onto the existing
house owners boundary walls, without assurances from the construction department that it would be safe to do so,
nor permission from residents.
This issue itself could cause liability implications for the owners, apart from
the fact that the local authority has obligations, under The 1966 Sales Act, to reinstate any property to its original state
following works carried out by the authority. Most importantly, is the risk to life and limb should a wall collapse.
Although on-site meetings have taken place on various occasions between residents,
council staff for construction, estate management, GM 10 project staff, Parks Dept staff, and numerous elected representatives,
it has to be stated here that no works, notifications or commitment to deliver the works have happened. The entrances
to the infill houses at Moorefield Crescent and Moorefield Grove is, as the residents have discussed, "disgraceful, an
accident waiting to happen with total disregard for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, road users, and an endangerment to
the residents, their children, and those who visit."
The entrance to Moorefield Grove and into Moorefield Avenue has been described as "looking like a ghetto". There have been no works done, as
promised, to address the constant dumping, the entrances to driveways backing out onto the access road, no road calming measures,
and no safety rail to probihit young children from running onto the road, (as there is a blind spot from a green open area)
that leads onto the pocket park designed for play.
Laneways that are no longer public rights of way and are still, at time of print,
causing damage to the resident's homes, quality of life, and the environs around them, are still left open to facilitate disturbing
nuisance, littering and loitering from persons who are unapproachable. It is agreed by residents, that have to endure these
terrifying events, that it is not good enough that the local authority "pass the buck" and tell residents to inform An Gardai.
The Gardai have been fully aware of the problems as so have the litter wardens and estate managers for some years now. The
Garda Superintendent has supplied the Council with a letter of endorsement to close off the lanes in the interest of safety
to the residents concerned.
The Moorefield Environment Group members and representatives have worked with all
members of SDCC, elected Council representatives, elected Dail Deputies, and An Gardai on a totally voluntary basis, giving
our time freely and enthusiastically to ensure that Moorefield is a place where people want to live and rear their families,
and protect the elderly and vulnerable in our community. Moorefield Estate is a designated RAPID area and the priorities of
addressing real quality of life issues is vital in creating an equal multi-economic social environment that addresses
poverty for the citizens it has been developed to address.
The MEG of residents trust that all of the addressee's will pursue on behalf of
the people of Moorefield Estate the outstanding estate enhancements, the infill housing, road, and boundary safety issues,
laneway closures, and the disposal of lands requested by residents to the satisfaction of the residents, Council, and An Gardai,
in the very near future."
Yours sincerely,
Moorefield Environment Group of Residents.
MEG Newsletter March 2006 Part 2
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