“A waste of tax payers’ money” is how Independent councillor Sheila Buckley Byrne deemed the proposed €260,000 regeneration plan for Willow Park and Meadowbrook.
The plans were put before members of athlone Town Council last week resulting in uproar when Cllr Buckley-Byrne suggested that the council and students were to blame for some of the anti-social behaviour in the area, saying that, Willow Park went downhill after the town council started purchasing houses.
Sinn Fein councillor Paul Hogan and Labour councillor Jim Henson were quick to disagree with Cllr Buckley-Byrne calling her comments disgraceful and a terrible mistake; she was then asked to retract them.
“This plan is the start of something new and I think you’re taking the side of the landlord,” added Cllr “Boxer” Moran. “The HSE and other parties also have a lot to answer for. You’ve also down graded students when they’ve in fact contributed a lot to the area.”
Inresponse Tommy Harney, chairman of the Property Owners Association, Willow Park has come out in defence of Cllr Buckley Byrne. “We wish to thank Sheila for her refreshing and honest assessment of the situation in Willow Park. Sheila has worked tirelessly for all concerned since her election in trying to bring about positive change...It is regrettable that Shlia came under such attack for stating the true facts...” said Mr Harney.
In the report, read out by director of services Barry Kehoe, it was explained to council members that “over the past five years social problems have emerged in the estate and these have impacted negatively on the public preception of the area. The problems have been compounded by a high level of absentee landlords and transient communities, which have impacted on the level of community spirit. There is dereliction and illegal dumping in parts of the area.”
The council has put forward a number of proposed works in order to repair and regenerate the area, namely: a playground in the green area at Norwood Court at a cost of €60,000; an all-weather multi use games area in Meadowbrook at a cost of €100,000; and fencing worth €45,00o.
It is also envisaged to repair the Meadowbrook green area, plant trees, and provide an alternative access point to Willow Park.
The residents’ and landlords’ associations have also expressed a need for a CCTV system in the area; however the council believes such a service would be outside it’s remit. There is a significant issue with derelict housing in the area and the council has served many derelict sites notices, although it admits progress on this situation has been slow.
The overall cost for the these works is €260,000, and with the council able to provide only some €35,000, it is anticipated that most of the funding will be provided from tax payers money.
