Talking to the Local Community

FROM THE GROUND UP WORKSHOP
SURVEY OF PEOPLE IN THE WINDY ARBOUR LOCALITY
22nd JULY
BY AIDAN MC NAMARA

I spoke with 3 different age groups in the area.
-The Residents of Glasson Court which overlooks the green space.
-The office workers in Dundrum Business Park.
-The owners/ workers in the local shops.
Each group had distinct views about the green space.

RESIDENTS OF GLASSON COURT















Glasson Court has the only residence that face onto the green space and consists of 24 apartments contained in 4 unit buildings.
They are owned by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and occupied by old age pensioners.
6 residents responded to the call of which 3 were positive about the green space and 3 were apathetic or negative. Those who were positive mostly appreciated it as a visual amenity. Most of the elderly residents would be averse to change which might upset the status quo of the green space.

One old man was particularly critical about youths regularly drinking, littering and setting fires in the green space. This concern was not corroborated by the other residents.
2 elderly ladies said their grandchildren use it to play sometimes when they occasionally came to visit.
Residents are happy with vegetation by river as it is a refuge for wildlife including herrins and foxes.
Residents are happy for people to walk their dogs but are concerned about them not cleaning up after their dogs.
Residents are happy for office workers to have their lunch there but are concerned about them littering.
Of the 2 residents questioned about having a bridge to the Dundrum Road access one would like it for easier access and the other would not as this would bring more through traffic.
The apartments themselves make poor use of the green space. The front doors of the ground floor apartments are screened from the green space by a constrictive porch. Any residents from the first floor apartments who answered the call did so from their first floor window rather than their front door at ground level. A balcony at first floor level with a patio below on each of the apartments would enhance the elderly residents’ enjoyment of the green space from their own apartments.

OFFICE WORKERS FROM DUNDRUM BUSINESS PARK
















I interviewed office workers at the entrance to the business park at lunchtime on their return from the shops. They were mostly in their 20’s and the majority were female.
The majority were not aware of the green space or didn’t use it due to the poor and unwelcoming appearance of the entrance across the road.
Almost all of those interviewed would be encouraged to use the space at lunch time if benches were added and the Dundrum Road entrance was made more welcoming.
Litter bins would need to be added to avoid littering and upsetting the residents.

OWNERS/ WORKERS IN THE LOCAL SHOPS
Most of the shop owners and workers do not live in the area and do not get to go out for lunch so they would not have an interest in the local green space but like to make use of the green space/ parks in the area where they live. Of the 6 shop owners interviewed, 4 were interested to discuss green space and 2 were disinterested.
The owners of Breffni Pets and Coyne’s Corner house pub did not see any potential in engaging the rear of their premises with the green space.
The owner of Coyne’s Corner house said that the space was considerably better maintained now than in the past.

STUDY OF USAGE OF GREEN SPACE from 13.40-14.40. 22nd July















7 people were in the Green Space from 13.40-14.40.
3 people were passing through from the Dundrum Road access to Farrenboly Road or vice versa.
4 actively used the green space:
-Male in 20’s walked dog around river.
-Male in 20’s sat in car beside green space and had lunch.
-Female in 30’s with child sat in North East Corner .