Skateboard plan for Mayo county town adopted despite concerns

PLANS for a new skateboard park in Castlebar have been approved despite objections by local residents.

Located beside the access to the Lough Lannagh leisure complex, residents in St. Patrick's Avenue have concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour and safety, given the site's proximity to a local road.

Having presented those concerns at a Castlebar Municipal District meeting yesterday, it was suggested that the council should look at alternative sites in the Lough Lannagh area.

However, there is a November timeframe for monies to be spent, and moving the park outside the defined boundaries of the planning application could not be done.

Ultimately, the Part 8 planning application went to a vote and was carried.

Ann Lavelle, part of a three-strong delegation from St. Patrick's Avenue, told the meeting they did not oppose a skate park but had great concerns about the proposed location. There were alternative sites available in the general area, such as at the far playground or behind the tennis courts.

Noise and anti-social behaviour were a concern and there had been issues in the vicinity for years with drinking parties, boy racers, and only recently cans were dumped in the old cemetery, which is right beside the proposed park.

They had nothing against skaters; it was the people it would attract afterwards, drawing people during unsocial hours.

Their request was that the council would look at alternative sites.

Councillors supported having a skate park but it was important residents views were taken on board and that the council work with them and alternative sites be considered, management was told. On that, Councillor Blackie Gavin suggested a site at the proposed new sports campus at Knockaphunta.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne reiterated the point: Everyone was in favour of a park; the question was where.

The repercussions of not supporting the Part 8 were questioned by cathaoirleach Councillor Donna Sheridan. Would the funding be lost, she asked.

MD head David Mellett said if the Part 8 wasn't granted, it was unlikely they would be able to spend the funding in redesigning it as it has to be spent by November.

They had looked at different sites around the town. It was decided to have it in a public area, not isolated, from an anti-social point of view and also for the health and safety of users. The playground/gym area was felt to be too isolated.

From their research, noise was negligible from a certain distance. In Westport, the nearest home was 46 metres from the skateboard park there whereas in Castlebar, it was 100 metres.

In Westport, there had been no complaints about noise or anti-social behaviour.

A proposed amendment that the Part 8 be granted subject to the location being changed was not possible, members were told. And that idea was rejected in a subsequent vote, with just Gavin and Kilcoyne in favour.