Longwood playground to proceed at village green

Plans to locate a playground on the village green in Longwood have been given the green light at a meeting of Trim Municipal District councillors.

While everyone is in agreement that Longwood needs a playground, the proposed location at the Fairgreen has proved to be hugely divisive.

A decision on the part eight planning report had been deferred by Trim area councillors at their March meeting and came back before them today for a vote.

It went right to the wire with three councillors voting for the playground to proceed on the green with some amendments, while three voted against.

As it was a split vote, Cathaoirleach Ronan Moore who has in favour of the playground proceeding in this location, had the casting vote.

He had proposed a number of amendments to the original plan for a parking element to be included, that there would signage with the opening hours, increased lighting, to remove plans for a footpath that would narrow the road and to provide a zebra crossing.

This went to a vote and as the vote was tied, the casting vote went to Cllr Moore as cathaoirleach.

Cllr Noel French, Cllr Padraig Coffey and Cllr Joe Fox all voted against, while Cllr Moore, Cllr Paul O'Rourke and Cllr Dave Boyne voted in favour.

As he voted, Cllr Boyne said he was had been instructed by party headquarters to vote in favour though he personally disagreed.

During the discussion that preceded the vote , Cllr French said he was 12 years on the council and he had never experienced a situation like this before. "A playground should be an occasion of joy for a community, this one has divided a community and councillors as well."

With the proposal carried with amendments, the next step will be to incorporate these amendments into the design.

Funding of €170,000 is in place and once the plans are finalised, it will then go out to tender.

For more on this see next week's edition of the Meath Chronicle.