Information Circular to Residents

TO: RESIDENTS OF LATCHFORD
AND CASTLEGRANGE

A brief note on some local issues from Cllr Michael O’Donovan

A chairde,

· Schooling issues
Fingal planners have granted full permission for the new Community College, Pobalscoil Setanta, and an adjoining Community Primary School. This will be a €20 million educational project, with €4 million extra coming from the Council for sports and community facilities. As chairperson of the Board of Management of the Community School, I am delighted that we have now signed the contract with Hegarty and Company and that funding is in place. I am also aware that a number of Latchford residents have expressed concerns about some aspect of the plan and the design. I am pleased that the Fingal planners have imposed over 25 Conditions which address many of the residents’ concerns. I am also happy that the VEC and their Architect are still meeting with residents to try to sort out the remaining problems.

· Management Companies
My thanks to all who signed the petition calling for the implementation of the Law Reform Commission report and the introduction of tough new laws to give control to residents. The Minister has received and acknowledged the petition, but has given no timescale for the new legislation. We will continue the fight on this issue at Dáil and local level.

· Greens, pitches, etc.
Work is continuing on the major open space to provide playing fields and a playground. I hope these facilities will be enhanced by the indoor and all-weather sports elements of the new schools. Tremendous voluntary work is being done in the community. It’s our job as public representatives to deliver the facilities.

We hope to open a new playground and car park at Beechpark estate, Clonsilla (just over the railway tracks) on or about May 20th. A new park has been opened at Waterville near Connolly Hospital (complete with a lake and a family of swans). At 55 acres, it’s a small park, but it links well with the paths along the Tolka Valley.

If you wish to contact me on these or any other issues, feel free to phone 087 2207798 or email michael.odonovan@fingalcoco.ie


Yours sincerely,
Cllr. Michael O’Donovan
Local Councillor - Ongar/Clonsilla area