A RALLY IS planned in Dublin next month to protest the closure of Stepaside Garda Station with local residents planning to form a human chain around the station.

Sinn Féin representative Shaun Tracey has called on the local community to “come out in their droves” in support of the rally which has been planned by the Committee to Save Stepaside Garda Station.

Tracey said the station is in a growing community with a population of approximately 18,000 to 20,000 people and its closure would be “a devastating loss to the area.” It will now mean that 34 gardaí stationed at Stepaside will be transferred to Dundrum Garda Station and seven other areas will also now be policed remotely from Dundrum and Blackrock.

“No matter what spin the minister puts on this there is no getting away from the fact that this is a budget cutback that will have a devastating impact on our community,” Tracey said. “It is an attack on our community and it will be opposed robustly.”

The rally is due to take place on the afternoon of 3 February.

Related:100 garda stations to close and 28 districts to amalgamate>
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