WORK is expected to get under way this week on a long awaited playground for communities in Westbury, Shannonbanks, Carraig Midhe, Parteen and Ardnacrusha.
The news was given to Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, who has been making representations on the plan to the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council.
They told him that a resolution has been reached on a series of issues relating to the site of the new facility.
€92,500 was allocated from the Hinterland fund six years ago to develop recreational services in areas of Clare that bordered Limerick City.
Matching funding from Clare County Council brought the total up to €185,000, and a number of potential sites were considered as possible locations for a playground to serve the local communities.
“Following the scoping of these sites and the elimination of some proposed locations, a playground committee made up of local community members was formed and they began work on securing a site at the Seanchoill Sports Complex in Parteen,” Deputy Carey explained.
“Following delays in relation to site selection and changes in the committee, I am now happy to confirm that a lease and right of way has been secured from the Sports Complex and planning permission has been granted by Clare County Council to develop the playground.
“The playground committee have engaged in a tendering process and appointed a contractor to deliver the playground and it is anticipated that work will get under way this week.
“The Rural Development Directorate has assured me that they will continue to support the playground committee. This will include their application for inclusion in the playground insurance scheme, and access to funding on an annual basis through the Community Support Scheme,” Deputy Carey added.
