RESIDENTS AT GOREY ESTATE UP IN ARMS AT ERECTION OF FENCE
SEAN O’BYRNE PARK RESIDENTS WEREN’T TOLD ABOUT FENCE
Residents from Sean O’Byrne Park are up in arms at the height of a fence that has been placed around the green area in a bid to make it safe for children.
A contractor put up wooden railings around the green play area to prevent children running out onto the road. The fence was funded by Cllr Fionntán Ó Suilleabháin who put part of his discretionary fund towards the erection of the fence.
Staff members from Gorey Municipal District and local councillors have been receiving numerous complaints since last Thursday from residents who have described it as a ‘monstrosity’. They are also angry they were not consulted before the fence was put erected.
Bernie Shanahan from Sean O’Byrne Park said ‘not one sinner on this street knew about it’.
‘All I say is please take it down,’ said Bernie. ‘Nobody was consulted about it. It was a surprise to us all when we saw it.’
Residents Dolores and Natalie Doyle agreed the fence is terrible looking adding they weren’t consulted about it. They said would have liked to be given the chance to vote on it.
Cllr O Suilleabhain said he is very disappointed at the fence saying it is not what he was looking for on behalf of the residents. He said that he feels the company made the fence too high, making it unsightly looking.
‘I know that like in many estates, parents are often afraid to let their children out for fear of being knocked down. In the end I was happy to allocate my Councillors Discretionary Funds to pay for a railing as requested.,’ said Cllr O Suilleabhain.
‘I must say I was disappointed to see that the company contracted by the council left the fencing much taller than the one I had helped organise for Willow Park/Ashwood Grove, which was low fencing and has been very well received to protect children in that large estate.’
He added that several residents had been asking him to push for safety measures in the estate which he has been doing for many years.
‘Safety measures were also demanded at a public meeting which I attended in St Columba’s Hall a few years ago,’ said Cllr O Suilleabhain.
‘I had engineers in the estate meeting residents on two occasions recently and have repeatedly requested the council to install ramps or failing that traffic chicanes to make it safer for the many children who play there.’
He added that ‘its about whatever most of the residents want at the end of the day’.
Neville Shaw, district engineer, said the fence is certainly not what was expected and told the residents that the contractor could either adjust it by taking down one rail or take it down altogether.
‘If they provide me with a letter on behalf of residents and over 50 per cent of them sign it then we can take it down if they so wish by early next week,’ added Mr Shaw.
Cllr Malcolm Byrne said the fence around the green area was a monstrosity and if the council want to improve safety, they could simply do so by installing speed ramps.
‘I have been looking for ramps to be placed in the area for quite some time,’ said Cllr Byrne. ‘The residents were not consulted on this and are extremely annoyed it was put it up. It looks like something for keeping horses in.’