Open-Gate Policy

Any regular visitor to Redmond Park will have noticed that the gates are now open around the clock. The decision to go with the open-all-hours policy was taken last month by the Council. We expressed our strongest reservations at the decision.

One of the main reasons Love Redmond Park was set up was to ensure the park fulfilled the remit of the trust by which it was established: to be for the enjoyment of the children of Wexford. 

We are gratified to see that the number of people visiting Redmond Park in recent years has been on the up and up. Visitors comment on how well the park looks, how little rubbish there is and, in general, how wonderful it is to see it once again been appreciated for the valuable community resource that it is. This has been achieved by the community coming together and working with the local authority for the common good.

It goes without saying that we do not want the park to go back to the way it was in the past when many families were reluctant to go there at all. For this reason it is now more important than ever that the community actively embraces, and takes ownership of, the park. It is a community resource which will only survive through careful nurturing and through being appreciated as a vital part of the fabric of that community. 

We had reports of a boisterous bunch there last night. While they kept some of those living closest to the park from getting an early night's sleep they did not cause any damage. There was some litter, not too much. 

While we cannot stop people going into the park at any time - as in we do not have the power to do so (nor do we want it!) - the only thing we can do on such occasions is contact the Gardai and let the Council know every time it happens. 

The 24/7 open-gate policy is, the Council has assured us, on a trial basis. If there is any increase in anti-social behaviour the locked gate policy will be brought back.