THIS IS NOT A WORKING CLASS AREA!
Narky neighbour’s poison pen letter to parents complains of children playing outside, bouncing balls and devaluing property in quiet street
SOUTH Dublin suburbia was left agog following a bizarre campaign by one resident trying to stop the ‘carry-on’ of children ‘bouncing balls’ in the area over a fear it could devalue property prices.
A letter was sent to a young couple in Ailesbury Lawn in Dundrum by an elderly neighbour who was furious at a handful of young children playing in the quiet suburban street.
The missive says that local children should not be allowed to turn the street into ‘a play area’ and attacks their parents for their ‘complete lack of responsibility’ and ‘couldn’t care less attitude’ in allowing their youngsters to have fun outside.
‘This carry-on will inevitably affect the saleable value of all properties in the area as who would buy into an area where kids run riot and their parents look on and encourage them,’ it read.
‘There are many green areas within five minutes walk of here where these kids would be free...
‘However, as the saying goes ‘you can take the man out of the bog but
‘This carry-on will affect value of properties’
you can’t take the bog out of the man.’
Neighbour Miriam Fitzpatrick posted the letter on Twitter earlier this week, sparking an outcry of support for the young kids. A grandfather of one of the children mentioned in the letter insisted: ‘The kids here are nice kids.’
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown councillor Shay Brennan said he has ‘never, ever heard’ of someone complaining about local children in this way before.
And he revealed he has now applied for ‘children at play’ signs to be erected on the street.
‘The key thing is not to stop children from playing in the street but making it safe for them to do so,’ he added.
He describes Ailesbury Lawn as ‘mature and quiet’ – a leafy street home to older couples and some young families.
While the sight of children playing on the street has diminished in recent years, there are a lot of benefits to be gained from playing outside, according to Dr Carol Barron, a DCU academic who works in the area of child development.
Aside from just helping their physical well-being, Dr Barron says outdoor play allows children to socialise, learn how to share, use their imagination and help to develop their motor skills.
‘There are loads of benefits specific to outdoor play,’ she added.
When children play outdoors, it allows them to relax away from the strict supervision of their parents and play is even protected by the UN, according to Dr Barron. Under Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child is entitled to ‘rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities… and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.’
Despite the letter claiming otherwise, children playing on a street has no effect on property prices, according to a local real estate agent.
The agent, working in the Dundrum branch of Sherry FitzGerald, said it ultimately comes down to the buyer whether or not they want to live in a street where children play.