Slane playground projects awaiting government funding

With the arrival of the economic downturn and the fact that many parents now find themselves with more time on their hands, there was no better time than the present for Meath County Council to build playgrounds in the county, Cllr Eoin Holmes told a meeting of the Slane Electoral Area Council of the county council. Members of the area council were told that the council was not in a position to go forward with the preparatory work for playgrounds until it got approval from the Government on the financing of the projects. Council official Paul Monahan said they would be unable to proceed until such time as they got approval on amenity scheme funds. Slane area cathaoirleach Cllr Jimmy Cudden said it was his understanding that money for playground projects had been ring-fenced. Both Cllr Holmes and Cllr Ann Dillon Gallagher wanted to know if the council had engaged with Department officials about the funding. They were told that council official Michael Killeen was engaged in this process. Cllr Holmes said it was extremely important that officials go to the Department and tell them how important these projects were. Area engineer Jim Colwell said it would still be possible for the council to go forward with the Part 8 preparations while awaiting for word of funding to come through. "We don't know the exact situation at the moment," he said. Acting area manager Bill Sweeney said: "Certainly, the funding will be pursued. The final sanction or approval rests with the Department of Finance." Residents from Mountain View in Stamullen, who have been opposing the siting of a new playground in their estate, attended the meeting and held up placards outlining their opposition as the councillors discussed the projects. Cllr Cudden said that when he attended a meeting in Stamullen the previous week, the absolute opposition to the project had been voiced by these particular residents. He said that he was all for playgrounds but not when the location was causing upset to people. "The Mountain View residents are opposing this particular location for a playground for very valid reasons. We would be wasting money pursuing a Part 8 if the project is going nowhere," he said. Cllr Dillon Gallagher said she had been in favour of the project but had now communicated "my total change of mind". She agreed wholeheartedly with the cathaoirleach in opposition to the location. Cllr Sirena Campbell said that she, too, had a concern about the location. She did not think it was a suitable site for a playground. "I really think that we need to listen to what people are saying on this. The residents are concerned about antisocial behaviour and other issues that might arise," she commented. Mr Sweeney said that Part 8 was a public statutory process. If a site was technically possible, then the next step was to go to Part 8, which would give people a forum to express their views on whether the particular project is good for the overall planning of the area. Cllr Holmes said there was a clearly demonstrated need for a playground in the area. Cllr Wayne Harding said there were very obvious concerns among the people of Mountain View. But the council had agreed a process where the people who might be affected by it could put their views. "There is an issue in the area with the proposed playground, but that can be dealt with in the Part 8 process," he said. The councillors had seen objections to proposed sites in Slane and Duleek but these had been ironed out. He wondered whether it was the right thing to do to go forward with a Part 8 when they knew there would be a list of objections to it.