There have been a number of amendments to a local government act of new park bye-laws, which is due to come into force next month.
Following a period of public consultation between July and September of this year, the council received three submissions with proposed amendments.
The new bye-laws will now also contain rules prohibiting horses entering water in or near parks, and on the designated opening hours of children’s playgrounds. In addition, the bye-laws have been expanded to incorporate the Weir swimming area.
The amendments were made at the behest of the Kilkenny County Committee of Irish Water Safety.
However, the council rejected the submission of Ossory Park’s Community Watch, which requested that the ‘green areas’ of Ossory Park be included in order to combat anti-social behaviour. The council held that the bye-laws do not provide for open spaces within residential areas.
Areas that the new bye-laws will govern include Assumption Place Playground and Pitch, County Hall grounds, James’ Green, River Nore Linear Park, Waterbarracks Playing Field, and the Fr McGrath Centre Playground and Bishop’s Demesne.
The new bye-laws include restrictions on games and activities in parks, and govern the presence of animals such as dogs and horses. They also prohibit the possession of any alcohol – for supply or consumption – in a park, without the permission of the council.
At last week’s meeting of Kilkenny Borough Council, Councillor Sean Ó hArgain welcomed the amendments to the draft, and expressed his hope that the new bye-laws would be enforced accordingly, with particular regard to those laws regulating public alcohol consumption.
“These regulations are only as good as their implementation,” he said.
Infractions of the new bye-laws may result in fines up to €1,905, arrest and prosecution, or barring from the park. The new park bye-laws will be in effect as of Monday, December 19.
