Meeting planned as playground remains closed

A public meeting is to be scheduled in the coming weeks to inform the people of Quin as to why a new playground, which was completed earlier this year, has not yet opened.

Addressing the frustration and annoyance among parents and children in the community over the locked facility, Ennis East councillor, Sonny Scanlan, explained the reason for the hold up.
“It is part of the planning conditions that the wall be put back three feet before the playground can open and a footpath has to be laid too.
“There are children going in there at the moment and they’re not supposed to go in there. What we’re going to do is call a public meeting and let the people know what the issue is. The playground is on the main road on the left side and for safety reasons, the wall that’s there has to be pushed back,” Councillor Scanlan said.
Asked why the works couldn’t have been done sooner, he said the bad weather held it up initially and that following consultation with Clare County Council engineers and the builder involved, it was hoped this could be rectified “as soon as possible”.
He added that a meeting has been arranged with the builder for Thursday morning with a view to moving the wall back.
Margaret Frain, chairperson of the Parents Association of Scoil na Mainistreach, said it is disappointing that the playground is lying idle.
“Quin has now a fully finished playground but from a parents’ perspective, we would love for our children to have access to it. It’s fantastic looking and yet we can’t allow our children in and this is causing frustration.
“The parents here are delighted to see the playground, as they would have been driving to Tulla and Ennis to get access to a playground. But to have it locally is not much good when the children can’t get in to it.
“There is no green area in Quin so it will be great to have a place to take the children. I would definitely welcome a public meeting to see what the hold up is,” Ms Frain said.
It is understood that signage has been put in place outlining the reason for the playground’s continued closure to the public.