Arden View residents thumbs down for GAA schools car park link in Tullamore
COUNCIL plans to forge a link with Tullamore GAA club to allow the car park at O'Brien Park be used for schools in Arden View have received a thumbs down from residents of the estate.
COUNCIL plans to forge a link with Tullamore GAA club to allow the car park at O'Brien Park be used for schools in Arden View have received a thumbs down from residents of the estate.
Under a park and stride initiative, Offaly County Council has proposed the car park at O'Brien Park be used by parents and students to access and depart the national schools in Arden View
.In return, Tullamore GAA club, in a written legal agreement, would receive a 15 metres portion of a green area at the front of Arden View which would facilitate an extension to one of the pitches in O'Brien Park.
The proposal was placed in front of residents of Arden View by Offaly County Council Area Engineer, Joe Dooley at a packed public meeting in the estate's Community and Family Resource Centre recently.
But the initiative was overwhelming rejected by residents at the meeting with many expressing anger at the estate being clogged up with traffic on big match days.
Johnny Bracken captured the mood of the meeting when he said "we don't want to lose our beautiful green area with its sight of the hospital to facilitate the GAA."
Another resident, Alo Scully said the council had already facilitated the GAA by giving two pitches at Dr Kelly's field further up the Arden road
.At the outset of the meeting, which was chaired by Cllr Declan Harvey, Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Municipal District, Joe Dooley highlighted the safety dangers at drop off and pick up times at the schools in Arden View.
He said Tullamore GAA was willing to allow its car park at O'Brien Park be used in those hours and parents and students could access St Joseph's National School through a gateway at the back of the school beside O'Brien Park
."The GAA want 15 metres of land (in Arden View) to enhance their existing pitch," he pointed out.
Mr Dooley said Tullamore GAA would reinstate the boundary walls at the estate and erect new netting for ball stopping
."We're trying to push this through as a safer route for children," said Mr Dooley who added that the car park had space for over 100 vehicles.He highlighted safety dangers for children currently being dropped off outside the schools.
The Area Engineer stressed that if the proposal received the thumbs up it would take very little work and cost to see it finalised.
He added that the council had approached the GAA with the proposal as they were anxious to create a safe route to school for students and said similar developments were taking place throughout the country.
READ NEXT: Tullamore Credit Union celebrates five year anniversary of Kilcormac office with community event
Resident Lulu Ryan hit out at what she termed a "disgraceful" situation in Arden View with parking when the Westmeath versus Meath senior football clash was played in O'Connor Park a number of weeks ago."
The Guards could do nothing about it," she claimed
.Another resident suggested the council do a deal with the GAA to take half of O'Brien Park for a car park and develop a new pitch in a different area of town
.If the plan didn't work would the GAA return the green area to the estate enquired another speaker from the floor.
Brendan Scully highlighted weather issues and said children would be dropped off 200 yards from the school if the proposal to use the car park at O'Brien Park went ahead.
Business woman, Sharon Leavy described the proposal as "a short term solution to a long term problem."
"We need to look at the bigger picture. I really feel that this is only putting a plaster on," she stressed.
Another resident wondered how many parents would use the car park at O'Brien Park if the proposal was successful.
"I wouldn't let my kids walk that far to school. This is quick fix, you need to come up with something else" she told Joe Dooley.
Another speaker pointed out that Arden View was a big estate with very "little green areas for kids to play in."
"This (proposal) won't work and the kids will have lost a bit of green area.
""The only ones who will benefit from this are the GAA."
Johnny Bracken added; "I think the reason we're here is to facilitate the GAA. Ye are not here to facilitate the people. Ye have no idea how to solve the concerns raised by people."
Richie Martin said that under the proposal the GAA would take the green area and "kids would be left with no play area".
Cllr Sean O'Brien said he would not support the loss of a green area if the residents were opposed to the proposal.
He said it was up up to the members of Tullamore Municipal District to issue a recommendation to Offaly County Council on the proposal.
Cllr Declan Harvey stressed he would support the decision of the people of Arden View on the issue..
Cllr Aoife Masterson suggested the residents organise a petition to highlight their opposition to the proposal.
The Sinn Fein woman said she would make representations to the Department of Education expressing residents concerns about safety at the schools
.Cllr Masterson said she understood the problem with parking on big match days in Arden View and suggested the issue involved a breakdown in communications between residents and the GAA.
"There is a feeling that the GAA are taking and taking," she added.
Cllr Masterson asked that the GAA engage with the community in Arden View.
Cllr Shane Murray said proposals similar to what was planned for Arden View were being put in place in other areas of the county, including Killina.
Former councillor Jody Coughlan said that under the proposal the remaining affected green area would be made unsafe for children.
Another resident complained of cars being parked all day from 7am in the estate by people working in town.
"If they were moved there would be plenty of space for parents of school children to park their cars."
Another speaker said the GAA "weren't the English". "We don't want to take ye're land".
At the conclusion of the discussion, Chairman, Cllr Declan Harvey asked residents to voice their reaction to the car park proposal.
He was greeted with a thunderous response of "no, no, no" from the attendance.
The second item on the agenda was a proposal to develop a cycle route through the estate which would link with existing routes along the Grand Canal at Convent View and Kilbride Park
.Residents listened attentively to the consultants proposing the development and viewed a video showing its impact on the roadway through the estate from Clara road to the Arden road.
Some concerns were expressed about safety and the roadway being narrowed to facilitate the new cycleway.