Temple Bar bids to combat anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour in one of Dublin’s most popular tourist spots is to be targeted by a new campaign, it emerged today.
Temple Bar, a 23-acre site full of pubs, clubs and restaurants, has suffered from the hoards of people who descent on it every night to socialise, including large groups of English stag and hen parties.
The local traders association TASCQ, said its Play Nice campaign was an attempt to make the area more enjoyable for visitors, workers and residents.
“We are trying to encourage responsible behaviour and discourage irresponsible behaviour,” said General Manager Martin Harte.
Businesses in the area have provided €50,000 in funding for the new campaign, which involves more street lighting, CCTV cameras, information signs and co-operation with the Gardaí.
Under a new publican charter bar staff are to be trained to serve alcohol responsibly and to encourage customers to use the toilets before they leave the premises.
Bars have also pledged to provide more comedy, music and food to dispel Temple Bar’s reputation as a destination only for alcohol consumption.
The Assistant Garda Commissioner in Dublin, Al McHugh said his officers did not want to spoil people’s socialising in Temple Bar. “But equally we will not stand by and watch drunks using doorways as toilets, intimidating passers-by or interfering with residents,” he said.
There are more than 3,000 people who live in apartments along Temple Bar’s cobbled streets and they have made frequent complaints to business and police about the behaviour of visitors to the area.
It has 32 pubs, 75 restaurants and cafes and 50 cultural centres. Despite the perception that the area is blighted by stag and hen parties, they account for less than 2% of all visitors.
Superintendent John Twomey of Pearse Street police station said it was not fair to say the stag parties were responsible for all of the problems. “Some of them come and go and they’re brilliant,” he said.
Temple Bar was previously a run down area in the centre of Dublin but was rejuvenated through a series of tax breaks and a 10-year regeneration programme.
