As a resident of Ashbourne for over 40 years, and someone who has grown up in this wonderful community and who now raises my own young family here, I am pleading with Meath County Council to give the people of Ashbourne the public open greenspace we deserve. For far too long, Ashbourne has been neglected in terms of publicly open accessible greenspace that has been a orded to so many other towns in Meath. As the second largest town in the County with the fastest population growth, it is time that Meath County Council focus on providing a much needed park for all generations in this town. Lockdowns and covid restrictions have highlighted the desperate need for safe large open space for residents to enjoy walks and recreation away from the busy roads that your previous planning departments and governance has surrounded us by. The 5km restriction in particular meant that residents of all ages were confined to walking the same busy paths along the town's busy roads. These are the same busy roads you have dreamed up a jigsaw 'linear park' alongside - a linear park that hasn't materialised and of which the only phase completed is the town's ONLY playground. It angers me that our property taxes are not invested in providing OUR town in MEATH with the funding and resources we deserve for a community park. I am appalled at the the suggestion that a 20 acre park is more suited to a town of our size when the independent ndings by Future Analytics in a report commissioned to highlight the de cit of public greenspace, recommends a MINIMUM of 80 acres in order to bring Ashbourne up to the standard of required greenspace for a town of its size. In a time when mental health and well being are more important than ever, Meath County Council needs to ensure the rezoning of the identi ed lands and nally do things right for the people of Ashbourne.
Ashbourne needs and deserves a park and Meath County Council needs to make it happen!
- The current lands (80 acres) identified for rezoning as public greenspace are perfect, this is a golden opportunity for our town. The park would be situated within 1.5 KM walking distance from almost all of the houses in the town, it would transform Ashbourne and reap rewards in multiple areas of life - personal, health, community and business.
- Any redirection of decisions on a park back to Local Area Level is a repeat of work already done. Extensive assessment work was done six years ago locally and potential lands were explored. To re-commence a process already exhausted would be a poor use of public resources and a severe delay for the expanding community in getting the greenspace it badly needs.
- MCC state that the necessary funds are not available to purchase and develop an 80 acre park. However, once the land is secured, multiple funding channels can be accessed. We are a very active and engaged community willing to work with the Council on the question of funding channels, as are our Councillors.
- COVID-19 and lockdown within 5km again highlighted how badly served Ashbourne is regarding OPEN and PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE GREENSPACE. Independent research conducted by Future Analytics determined that the town needs a minimum of 80 acres to address the historical and current shortfall in public greenspace. This is not our opinion, this is FACT.
- The park needs an entrance. Lands at Churchfields, gifted to the church by [Redacted_Personal Information], have been identified as most appropriate in this regard - linked to the town centre, schools, main arteries of the town etc. To put houses where this perfect access point exists would be a mistake.