Concerns that new seating areas in Kildare could ‘be subject to antisocial behaviour’

A request was made for Kildare County Council (KCC) to install new benches in certain County Kildare public areas and housing estates.

The matter was brought to KCC's attention by Fianna Fáil Cllr Brian O'Loughlin at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which was held on Wednesday, June 18 last.

Through his motion, Cllr O'Loughlin requested KCC "to commit to installing seating / benches in public areas and housing estates taken in control by KCC in this MD, in the interest of health, wellbeing and integration within the community".

Cllr O'Loughlin's motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Noel Heavey.

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KCC issued two separate reports in response to Cllr O'Loughlin's motion.

The first report came from KCC's acting senior park and landscaping officer for its Parks and Open Spaces department, Simon Wallace, while the second one came from Pamela Pender, KCC's senior executive officer of its Strategic Projects and Public Realm department.

The first response read as follows: "Seating and benches are included in new public areas and housing estates; the consideration of additional seating in existing public areas would be subject to identifying a budget, suitable locations and commitments to existing projects."

Mr Wallace added: "The co- operation of the local community will also be required as seating areas are also considered negatively as they may be subject to anti-social behaviour."

Following on from this, the second response read as follows: "Seating is generally provided as part of a regeneration project for a public realm space in our towns and villages.

"Where these projects are in our work programme funding and resources have been identified."

Ms Pender also suggested: "The installation of seating in areas not part of a particular project can be funded through Local Property Tax (LPT) if the members wish to allocate funding."

Cllr O'Loughlin said about the first report: "I accept the possibility of antisocial behaviour [where seating areas / benches are installed], but everything you put in has that possibility."

His sentiments were echoed by Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender, who told KCC: "I want to challenge that idea — if people want to cause antisocial behaviour, they will cause it wherever they want."

Meanwhile, Cllr Rob Power, who is another party colleague of Cllr O'Loughlin, welcomed the LPT funding idea from KCC, and Cllr Heavey said that he agreed with this line of thinking as well.

Cllr Brian O'Loughlin, Fianna Fáil. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie