BALLYNANTY residents have moved to clarify that they did not attend an information evening hosted by Limerick Youth Service in order to protest, but rather to ask questions in an orderly fashion regarding plans for a new youth centre. Spokesperson for the Ballynanty Opposition Committee to the LYS Development, Anne-Marie Stacke, said that the ‘Northside Youth Space’ appeared to be a “done deal” before any consultation took place with residents.
“We invited Director of LYS, Catherine Kelly, to attend several residents meetings to give her the opportunity to explain to us exactly what the plans entailed but she failed to show-up”, she told the Limerick Post.
“She now claims that we are misinformed but we took it upon ourselves to become informed by looking at the plans”.
Ms Stacke explained that residents who attended the meeting last Tuesday night had expected a questions and answers session but instead had been met with a “trade fair” like forum.
“We are the people on the ground and our voices need to be heard.
“We assumed the meeting would consist of a top table and rows of seats where questions could be asked and answered, instead we were greeted with stands and displays and no seating for the elderly.
“It wasn’t our intention to go in like a mob, we arrived separately and expected a civilised affair to tackle the concerns Ms. Kelly knows we have.
“Instead we were met with a fiasco and accused of ambushing her”.
Ms. Stacke insisted that residents took no issue with Limerick Youth Service and admire the work they do; Their only grievance is the location of the planned new facility.
“The majority of the houses in Ballynanty are privately owned and residents have a right to their say.
“We have limited enough green space in the estate and Kileely has none.
“We already have all the amenities that are suggested to go into the centre, so you have to question what will happen to the existing buildings when they are vacated”.
Fellow resident Patricia O’Dwyer said the information meeting had been “a farce”.
“We got no direct answers and all responses were dismissive and avoided the questions”, she told the Limerick Post.
“Ballynanty is too small an area to have another building crowding us in; We are already surrounded by Thomond Park, the health centre and several other imposing buildings.
“If this goes ahead where planned it will totally take from an area that children and adults use to play and exercise in.
“We already have very good facilities in the area to cater for what this new centre proposes”.
John Hickey is of the view that the information evening was a PR stunt.
“We attended that meeting with no agenda to protest, we were under the illusion that it was to be an open meeting where we could voice our concerns as a group.
“The thing about the night that appalled me most was that there were a group of youths there primed to interrupt any of the local residents that were making their feelings known.
“The majority of the residents in the area are elderly and had groups of youths confronting them saying, ‘why are ye against our youth club’ and intimidating them”.
Catherine Kelly said that the Limerick Youth Service will, over the coming weeks, “be keen to reassure locals as to the significant benefits it will bring to the community.
“Even in the context that this is such a positive and much needed initiative for the area, we don’t expect to get everyone on side and we will continue to respect all opinions.
“We are confident in the fullness of time that this centre will be seen and appreciated for the great good it is doing and a critical piece of social infrastructure for the Northside of the city going into the future”.
