Information Letter to Residents of Latchford 10Feb

TO: RESIDENTS OF LATCHFORD

A Brief Note on some Local Issues


· Recreation and open space:
Fingal Council’s Parks Department have produced a design plan for the large Ongar open space area on both sides of the old Hansfield road. This includes sports pitches, small playground, basketball courts etc, and there is funding for the work. If you would like a copy of the layout plan, please phone or email me.

· Taking-in Charge and Management Company issues:
My colleague Joan Burton and I are fully supportive of the excellent work being done by the residents association in seeking the maximum possible control of the Management Company. We will also press for Fingal Council to take Latchford in charge and assume responsibility for much of what is now done by the management company. This should result in reduced management fees. We will also continue to press for the complementation of the recommendation of the Law
Reform Commission report of the regulation of management companies. These new laws would take power away from developers and give for more control to residents. (Unfortunately the Government has allowed this report to gather dust for the past year).

· Schools:
After a number of years of intense lobbying by parents’ groups the availability of school places has greatly improved. The struggle is not over, however. We need high-quality permanent state-of-the-art school buildings for all our schools. In many cases, community facilities, part-funded by Fingal, are part of the school provision and this makes the school building programme all the more important. I will keep you informed of progress in this area.

If you would like to contact me on these or any other issues, please phone or email me.


Le meas


_________________________
Michael O’Donovan
Local Councillor – Ongar area