There are less gigs but more security planned for this year at Marlay Park.
Last year eight concerts at Marlay Park resulted in a record number of complaints from residents.
Followed by three meetings to address their concerns, security has been beefed up by 50% for the five concerts - Avicii, Paolo Nutini, and three nights of Longitude.
The concerts kick off at the Rathfarnham venue next month.
Extra barriers and fencing will be put up in estates and open spaces to stop fans from taking short cuts.
Busses and coaches will also be kept within the grounds to avoid anti-social behaviour.
Resident parking permits are being issued and a hotline is also being set up.
Find information regarding all the changes below:
Response to residents’ concerns following Marlay 2014
Number of concerts held over too long a period of time
Marlay 2014
The concerts took place between the 29th June and the 20th July 2014. There were 8 concert days in total including the Longitude Festival which ran over three days. Audience capacity was 40,000 on concert days and 20,000 per day for the Longitude Festival.
Total capacity: 210,000 people.
Marlay 2015
For Marlay 2015, there are 5 concerts in total – 2 standalone concerts and the Longitude Festival which runs over 3 days. The concerts will take place between the 3rd July and 19th July. However, a large proportion of the Park will be made accessible again to park users between 5th July and 11th July, inclusive. In addition disruption to the area in front of the house and around Boland’s Café will be minimised throughout.
Total capacity: 135,000 people
Engagement with residents
Up to three meetings have been held with residents associations in the area between September last year and April this year to develop a collaborative plan to manage the concerts in 2015.
Security
External security and stewarding has increased significantly across all of the concert days, and the offsite provision has increased by over 50% on 2014.
External policing and stewarding will be provided by a combination of An Garda Siochána, licensed security and stewards from St Johns GAA.
Fencing and barriers were put in place in the estates outlined below to deter concert goers accessing these estates during and after the event. Open space areas will also be secured on Stonemasons Way to avoid concert goers taking short cuts to the concert venue. Additional fencing and barrier will be provided, as agreed. .
Parking permits will also be issued to prevent non-residents from using housing estates for parking.
Security will stand down an hour later than last year for the stand alone concerts to be held on 3rd and 4th July.
Anti-social behaviour and policing of events outside the venue
To address issues of anti-social behaviour particularly when concert goers are leaving the event when the risk of anti-social behaviour intensifies, free parking will be available onsite this year for private buses and coaches. An area has been designated between the top and lower car parks off College Road in Marlay Park. This will avoid concert goers leaving the park to access private coaches keeping as many people as possible within the Park.
The Council is working closely with the National Transport Authority. The NTA is issuing licences to private bus operators to park in the car park off College Road only. The NTA will be monitoring compliance on concert days.
External security will be increased, both professional and Garda security, for the concert on the 3rd July.
A robust communications plan will be in place between the Gardaí, professional security and stewards for Marlay 2015 to ensure there is a rapid and effective response to incidents of anti-social behaviour outside the venue.
A resident’s hotline will be set up. The number will be issued to all residents to report any issues that arise on concert days
Toilets will also be provided outside the event on the Grange Road at locations to be agreed.
Traffic management issues
A comprehensive Traffic Management Plan is being developed for the concerts. The main focus of the plan will be to ensure that concert goers can access/exit the venue as quickly and safely as possible while still maintaining traffic flows for regular road users.
The TMP emphasises the use of public transport as the preferred mode of travel to the venue. Use of public transport is emphasised in all marketing material issued by the concert promoter, the Council and An Garda Síochana. We will also be encouraging concert goers to pre book and plan their journey in advance of the concerts.
There will be a return concert shuttle bus service running from the city centre into Marlay Park, which is operated by Marathon Travel.
There will be a shuttle bus transferring concert goers from the venue to the Luas following the two standalone concerts. It is hoped that there will be additional taxi capacity in the yard of the Ballinteer Girls National School.
The junction at Three Rock has been completed and that measure will improve traffic movement for Marlay 2015. The Gardaí also plan to override traffic lights this year to ensure free flowing traffic.
The junctions on the M50, northbound and southbound, will be split between bus and car based traffic to ensure that junction capacity is maximised.
Signage will be improved and the local stewards will be used to guide people effectively to their preferred transport mode.
It is hoped that a liaison from each residents association will be appointed and we can advise this liaison on the opening and closing of Grange Road and a text alert then activated to residents.
Litter Management
Festival Republic will provide a dedicated off site litter picking team. This will be augmented by the Council’s own resources. Residents who want to collect any litter in their own areas will be issued with bags and these bags will be collected as was the case last year. Difficult litter to access will be collected by the Council’s own contractor.
Noise Levels
The Event Licence provided in 2014 that the music level should not exceed 72dB (A) LAeq, over a fifteen minute period as set out by the Environmental Health Officer, Health Service Executive. The noise levels will be strictly monitored throughout the concert period. It was reported in 2014 that for the majority of the concerts, the music level was well below 72dB the prescribed noise levels.
The concert finish time was set at 11 pm but in general all concerts finish at 10.45 pm.
Restricted Park access
The stage has been moved this year to give as much access as possible to park users to the Park and in particular to Marlay House, Bolands Cafe and its environs. The new location for the stage avoids moving the stage during Longitude which helps to reduce disruption.
