Flood risk assessment delay to Ashbourne skate park

Plans for the delivery of the much anticipated skate park in Ashbourne have been delayed due to the site requiring a flood risk assessment.

Preliminary drawings for the proposed park were released by Meath Co Council in March 2022 with the skate park expected to be up and running later that year.

Sinn Fein Cllr Helen Meyer requested an update on the skateboard park at a recent Ashbourne Municipal District Meeting.

In its response Meath Co Council said that the tender process for the skate park was at an advanced stage with a preferred contractor identified. However, as part of the project, the Office of Public Works must give consent under S50 of the Arterial Drainage Act 1945.

A spokesperson said: “Some additional information has been requested by the OPW in connection with this process and the provision of this is being arranged through the design consultants. The S50 procedure must be completed before works can proceed.”

The plan for the amenity came to fruition after local teenagers campaigned for a skate park for the town.

Youngsters in Ashbourne set up a committee a number of years ago and handed a petition, signed by 180 people, to councillors, calling for a skate park.

The fight for space for young people to play or spend time in in Ashbourne has been going on too long according to Cllr Meyer who said:

“I spoke to the woman who was part of Ashbourne Playspace, a group campaigning for more recreational space in the area for children who was pregnant at the time and now has a 12 year old and there’s still no public or skatepark!

“In fact I’ve heard from lots of women who were originally involved in fighting for the public park whose children are now teenagers and some who are not far off being parents themselves and who may still not see a public park for their kids!

“It’s such a disgrace that the second largest town in Meath is still begging for infrastructure and yet houses are continuing to be being built without the corresponding facilities.

“The further delay with the skate park is just another nail in the coffin of that relationship and the belief that Ashbourne is ignored by the council.

“I submitted a formal motion to the board at least six months ago asking for a social infrastructure impact study to be conducted in Ashbourne. They said it’s been conducted in conjunction with other studies. I haven’t received any update on that but I’ll keep pursuing it.”

- 'Amenities skating past Ashbourne Kids' Read Sally Harding's Meathwoman's Diary in this week's paper