I have been a resident of Ashbourne for over 30 years. During my childhood, fields and greenspace were in abundance in Ashbourne and I have many fond memories of a childhood spent outdoors, playing and exploring in safe green areas and grassland. As I grew older, I watched as field by field the beautiful green landscapre disappeared. Housing estates appeared as if overnight, without a garden in sight. I truly felt the lack of greenspace in the town of Ashbourne during my maternity leave when I would leave the house seeking solitude, peace and to refocus my mind , only to be forced to walk the main roads and housing esates. There is literally no where off the beaten track, which is accessable to all that exists in Ashbourne. This statement sounds unbelievable but it is true and shame on those that allowed this to happen. We have the the opportunity to now to change this for the next generations and those that come after that.
During lockdown it was abundantly clear, there was zero public greenspace in Ashbourne. The government imposed a 2km limit on travel and we walked the main roads of Ashbourne in our 1000's. With the town growing so fast it is quite clear that Ashbourne requires a LARGE public park, open to all residents. The time to deliver this is now. We have had plans for a public park kicked down the road one to many times and it is is absolutely unacceptable that anyone should suggest we settle for less. Ashbourne deserves a public park.