Pressure forces u-turn on Stamullen playground

A plan by Meath County Council to build a new playground in Stamullen was withdrawn at a meeting of the Slane Electoral Area Committee of the council in the face of fierce opposition from residents of the village and from the area's councillors. The playground was to be located at the Mountain View estate. However, a total of 764 submissions or objections came into the council and, when these were outlined to councillors last Wednesday, council officials withdrew their proposal to build the new facility. Similar objections have been raised about the location of a proposed new playground in Donore. Objectors in both villages based their opposition on the fact that the estates on which they were to be located were older residential areas and that majority of children who might use the playgrounds lived elsewhere in the villages. A report on proposed playgrounds for Bettystown, Lobinstown and Donore was presented to councillors by council officials Aoife Kennedy and Fiona Redmond. The Lobinstown project was given a broad welcome by Cllrs Dillon Gallagher, Wayne Harding and Eoin Holmes. Ms Kennedy said it was proposed to locate a playground on a green space near St Mary's Cottages in Donore. There had been 31 submissions or objections to it. She summarised objections based on the inappropriateness of the site, the risk of antisocial behaviour, people who wanted the playground did not live at St Mary's Villas, that it would present an eyesore, and that dirt around the site would be unacceptable to residents. Cllr Seamus O'Neill said he would oppose this particular site and supported the strong objections by residents. Cllr Jimmy Cudden said that no councillor liked coming to a meeting to object to a children's playground being built. They had only made progress in building playgrounds in the last four to five years. However, he felt that playgrounds should not be built at all costs. St Mary's Villas was an old estate and the last thing the residents there wanted was a playground on their estate. The site was on the brow of a hill, it was at a T-junction and, in his opinion, was not a safe site. Having heard contributions from several councillors, including those who said that residents might change their views when they see the success of playgrounds in other villages, newly elected area cathaoirleach Cllr Sirena Campbell said she could not see them achieving consensus on this particular site. The issue will now go back to a full county council meeting. Ms Kennedy summarised submissions and objections to the Stamullen site. Some residents felt the site was inappropriate, that Stamullen needed a playground but not at Mountain View, that there was a traffic hazard presented by the adjacent road, that it would attract antisocial behaviour, that many of the residents on the estate were retired, there was insufficient car parking, it would present an invasion or privacy and quality of life, there were just 12 children from a total of 30 houses on the estate, and that the community hall area would be a better location. Cllr Cudden said photographs had been produced purportedly showing that the site chosen for the playground was prone to flooding. He said the estate was 30-35 years-old and the particular piece of ground had been neglected by the council and the people of the estate had come together to clean it up. The site was inappropriate because the vast majority of children lived on the other side of the village, and because there were 3,500 vehicles passing the entrance to Mountain View every day. Cllr Eoin Holmes said that councillors would have to take into account the very large number of submissions and objections to the site. He said there had been a very mature attitude by parents. They had said "we would love a playground but, in this particular instance, not at all costs". He added: "The community at large has said 'thanks but no thanks'." Cllr Campbell said the number of submissions had shown "in a very loud voice" that a playground should not be put in that estate and she agreed with that. Cllr Ann Dillon Gallagher said the estate was an older one and she agreed with those who said the playground should not be located there.