LIMERICK County Council cannot give the official go ahead to construction of Ballykeeffe Park, at an estimated cost of in excess of €2million. While work was due to get underway last year, there is now mounting anger among local people that officially, the park “is not on the agenda.”
Although a commitment had been given that development funds would be used to finance the project, the slump in the building industry had significantly depleted these funds,
which, according to the council’s director of services, Paul Crowe has ruled out commencement of work on the park.
Unhappy with the situation, Cllr James Collins said:
“We have been told that funds cannot be spent unless money is coming in, and that can only happen with future development in an area that is already so developed on but Ballykeeffe Park is the number one issue among the electorate in my area”
The councillor, who submitted a notice of motion calling for an allocation of €700,000 to commence work on the park over the next three years, said that discussion of the proposal has been deferred.
Also annoyed that the issue had been put on the long finger was Cllr Richard Butler.
The Ballykeeffe Park was first brought to the attention of locals in the Raheen/Dooradoyle area a number of years ago when the County Council sent out questionnaires to residents seeking their opinion on the proposed amenity.
It was expected to have a children’s playground, an open green area, walkways with seating and playing pitches
Locals have now accused councillors of using the Park for self-promotion ahead of local elections.
“A sign, showing where the park was supposed to be was just a stunt to secure votes before the elections,” said a resident of the Father Russell Road,
“It’s a disgrace that such a large residential area doesn’t have a public park”, said another.
Pointing out that the council has still not decided where the development funds will be spent, Cllr Collins says:
“These funds were paid by developers for this kind of facility – €130,000 has been spent from the funds, paying the wages of planners but this should be coming out of the council’s revenue.
