As anyone who has canvassed in Ashbourne during the local elections will know, the need for a park is the foremost issue on the minds of residents. While attempts have been made to furnish the town with a linear park, it is clear that for a growing town like Ashbourne, a more substantial park is required.
The land identified for re-zoning in Amendments 7 & 8 is perfectly placed at the centre of the town. This puts the park within a relatively short walk of citizens living across Ashbourne and does not exclude anyone based on distance or ability to access the park. 80 acres is also enough land to provide for the creation of a park suitable for a town as large as Ashbourne - a town which will continue to grow in the foreseeable future. The central nature of this park will also provide a substantially enhance amenity value to any future residential developments located around the proposed site.
It is crucial that the work to create a park for Ashbourne progresses through the County Development Plan. Extensive work has already been carried out at a local area level to the point where all efforts to develop a park at this level have been exhaustive. It would therefore be redundant to revert to this level, as well as damaging to the public trust. The public need to see that Meath County Council are serious about creating a park for Ashbourne, and that Meath County Council are as determined as residents within the town to make this park a reality.
With regards to the proposed zoning including 80 acres of open greenspace, it is clear from research conducted by Future Analytics on behalf of the Ashbourne Playspace Network, that 80 acres should be the goal we set to address the shortfall in greenspace that the town is currently experiencing. It is the understanding of this organisation that the professionalism and quality of the work conducted by Future Analytics is such that other public bodies, such as Meath County Council, retain the services of the firm. It is therefore appropriate to acknowledge their expertise in this matter and to therefore consider 80 acres as the goal we should strive towards for the ultimate size of this proposed park.
Accessibility to this proposed 80 acres is key in affording access to people living across the town. The site at Churchfields, which is currently subject to a planning application, would be an ideal area for a main point of access, including a car park. This point of access links the park to routes from the town centre, the town's schools, and to housing estates across the town. It is important that the value of such a site as a main entrance is realised.
To conclude, the foremost issue on the minds of residents in Ashbourne is the urgent need for a sizeable park for the town. We would like to reiterate our support for the Proposed Ashbourne Amendments numbers 7 & 8.