Push to develop Castlebar playgrounds needed - Campbell
Published: 3 October, 2008
A coordinated approach from all sections of society is needed to push the development of publicly owned playgrounds in Castlebar before financing begins to be redistributed according to Sinn Féin councillor Noel Campbell.
Councillor Campbell believes Castlebar already seriously falls behind in terms of playground delivery. Expanding on this point councillor Campbell said, "Castlebar town and its environs has a population of 12,000 which has access to one playground. Compare those figures to Sligo which has five playgrounds with a population of approximately 19,000 and Athlone which has seven playgrounds with a population of 20,000 and you immediately see that our town is lagging behind in providing safe, publicly maintained play areas for children.
"The framework to increase the number of 'active open space' areas in the town including play areas is incorporated in to the Castlebar and Environs Development Plan 2008-2014 but my fear is that the much broadcasted national recession will filter through to Local Government spending and could be used to halt the delivery of further open space areas and playgrounds.
"The health of our children and young people must be safeguarded and this means insulating open space and play areas from any budgetary restrictions that may arise. As far back as 2003 I invited groups and individuals to form a pressure group to advance the development of local authority playgrounds in Castlebar. I believe such a group is needed to ensure that not only are proposed playgrounds protected but also to ensure that the council's own objective "to achieve a network of new and existing recreation open space" is realised.
"I have been listening to the people of Castlebar in and out of the council and the provision of safe, well maintained playgrounds for their children is very important to them as it is to me. I would like to invite anyone interested in coming together apolitically, to formulate an approach or to share ideas in relation to the development of Castlebar's open space areas and playgrounds to contact me at castlebarsf@hotmail.com."
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