Waterford council considering a 'thorny' solution to anti-social behaviour

Waterford City and County Council are considering using thorny shrubs to prevent anti-social behaviour and dumping at Gallowshill.

Senior Executive Officer in the Environment department, Dawn Wallace, said they had sought funding for the measure.

However, such a measure may also prevent maintenance due to staff safety.

“We sought funding through the anti-dumping initiatives to look at planting – preventive planting, so something like pyracantha, which is particularly thorny, but we have to consider it in the context of our staff who have to clean up those areas - we don’t want to rip them to shreds,” said Ms Wallace.

Ms Wallace was responding to a request for an update from Councillor Kate O’Mahoney at the June sitting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District Council.

Cllr O’Mahoney said that she understands access to the national monument cannot be blocked.

But there has been a consistent problem with anti-social behaviour at Gallowshill.

“I suppose if it’s a national monument, we have a duty to protect it. And I know the council is considering planting a natural security barrier using shrubs,” said Cllr O’Mahoney.

Ms Wallace said that they needed to liaise with the presentation and heritage teams before putting any measures in place.

When asked if she knew when that would happen, Ms Wallace said she didn’t and that it depended on the team’s availability.

However, she would provide an update once they had time to discuss their options with their colleagues.