Cabra residents 'unable to sleep' following surprise night works
Cabra residents have been “unable to get a sufficient night’s rest” as ongoing Irish Rail works have been keeping them awake through the early hours of the morning.
Social Democrats Councillor for Cabra -Glasnevin Cat O'Driscoll highlighted the urgent need for improved communication between Irish Rail and the residents of Hamilton Gardens. As an apartment block including 485 homes located just 50 meters from the railway tracks, residents were taken by surprise as late-night works commenced without them being properly informed.
With “very loud noise” commencing at 9pm on Saturday, September 24, Cllr O’Driscoll revealed at the latest Central Area Committee meeting that the unexpected disturbance continued until 3am the following morning.
“They started the noise again at 9am the following morning,” she explained in her motion calling for better communication between residents and Irish Rail. “Hence, there were only six hours without their noise, but that is insufficient for a person to have a rest at night.”
Cllr O’Driscoll said that residents claim work began on September 27 at 12:45am and did not stop until 9am. She added: “Similarly, they worked early morning hours of Sunday, the 28th; and they started their work again at 5.30am on Monday morning.”
Having been contacted by several local residents regarding their frustration at the surprise disturbances, Cllr O’Driscoll stressed: “No notice was provided to residents on the night works and this must be addressed.”
A response from Dublin City Council claims that the management of Hamilton Garden Complex were notified about the night works by Irish Rail. However, this information did not find its way to those residents who were actually impacted by the noise.
Cabra Councillor Séamas McGrattan supported the motion and requested, in future, the community liaison officer notify local representatives about any upcoming works. He said this will ensure they are informed when residents contact them.
A representative from the council explained that there was an issue accessing the residents' letter boxes and that contacting the management of Hamilton Gardens instead was “their last port of call.” The council said this is an issue they will be paying close attention to, as rail works are set to continue at Cabra throughout the next few months.
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