RESIDENTS in Roslevan and on the Limerick Rd in Ennis have been ‘unfairly treated’ through the absence of playground facilities despite the payment of “development levies” while one clear solution to the issue has been flagged.
An appeal for the Ennis Municipal District to investigate whether a suitable site for a playground or children friendly facilities could be found on the Limerick Rd in Ennis was issued by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) who believed it presently had “a dearth or scarcity of family friendly facilities, especially for small children”.
No property in the area is owned by the Social Development Directorate unit of Clare County Council, senior executive engineer Adrian Headd detailed that would fit the bill for development of a playground or a facility suitable for children.
Senior executive officer with the Ennis Municipal District, Leonore O’Neill outlined that the County Council would assist any community group or local resident association that came forward with a playground by signposting them to available funding schemes. “A community playground is a facility provided by the Community, for the Community and would require significant local fund raising efforts to assist with the initial site purchase and provision of the facility”.
Two residents “both of which were not local” made representations with Cllr Howard before she highlighted the matter., “the Fair Green and Lees Rd are out of their reach”. She added, “They are not from town and they don’t have a network set up to be a part of an association. We’ve done great work with community assisted playgrounds, this could be brought into the whole conversation”.
Development levies were used for important water services but not community facilities, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) noted, “I’ve had a serious difficulty with the use of planning and development levies”. Promises of a playground for Roslevan never materialised, he lamented. “I think it is unfair that we have provided so many playgrounds in areas around town with the exception of these two areas”.
Young families could collaborate to try put playgrounds in place, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) suggested, “there are an awful lot of estates from Captain Mac’s Cross to Clareabbey”.
As she voiced her support for the proposal, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) flagged that an alternative solution is already in place. “I am supporting it generally but the thought comes to mind that you could walk from Hawthorns to Clarecastle. It is footpath along the way to a fabulous playground”. She added, “assuming the weather is good the walk shouldn’t take longer than ten minutes. They may not have even thought of Clarecastle. I am supporting you but I’m thinking there is a playground nearby”.
“They shouldn’t have to go into a car to get to a playground,” Cllr Flynn replied to which Cllr Colleran Molloy reiterated, “I wasn’t suggesting that, I said the walk takes ten minutes”.
