Residents hit back over youth café claims

THE controversy surrounding the provision of a new youth café in Ennis rumbled on this week when local residents issued statements about claims made by Councillor Brian Meaney concerning their opposition to the facility.

Councillor Meaney claimed last week in The Clare Champion that an irrational fear of teenagers in Ennis had resulted in a campaign from local residents opposing the provision of a new youth resource building on Cloughleigh Road.
The Green Party councillor said ephebiphobia (fear of young people) was causing harm, following protests from householders in Cloughleigh. He stressed the “crippling” fear of youths and teenagers in Ennis has to be confronted and understood in the context of the debate over the café.
Members of the newly formed Residents for Relocation of Ennis Youth Community Resource Building handed a letter of protest to Environment Minister John Gormley when he visited Ennis last Friday.
The new group is taking legal advice on the procedures followed for Ennis Town Council’s Part Eight process and what their next course of action will take.
According to a statement issued by group chairperson Pamela McCarthy and secretary Carole Linnane, the committee appreciate the great educational and social work being done by the Clare Youth Service in Ennis and throughout the county.
Acknowledging the need for more youth services, they said the youth café isn’t suitable for the proposed area.
“This building will incorporate, along with other services, a youth café, which will cater for 14to 18-year-olds and will open weeknights and weekends until 10pm. This is one of the oldest residential areas in town, with an age profile of 55 to 90 years and in one of our few green areas on the River Fergus.
“Three other sites were identified but not considered. Developments like the one proposed for Cloughleigh Road have proven to be more successful when located on streetscapes. They become ‘neutral zones’ more suitable for young people from all areas to come together.
“Residents of the area will swear an affidavit that no site notice was displayed prior to the vote on planning. However, a week after the vote, a site notice appeared on a pole on Cloughleigh Road in the wrong place and in the wrong format. We find this very disturbing, as no site notice is required once planning has been passed,” they stated.
The group claimed that at no time was any resident approached by the Community Forum, which residents had never heard of, and noted there has been a campaign of misinformation to detract from their main focus – relocation.
They asked where will Ennis Town Council get matching funding for the €340,000 already approved in recessionary times and noted that the community already has a resource building, which cost €80,000 to refurbish.
Another concerned resident, who didn’t wish to be named, urged Councillor Meaney to desist from “sensationalism” and to get on with the real business of doing what was needed for communities by addressing real problems.
“Councillor Meaney didn’t take the time to read the submission, which was presented at the last council meeting. It stated specifically what the concerns of local residents were far from any prejudicial remarks towards young people, Travellers or indeed foreign nationals.
“The statement he made to the press recently about consultation was unbelievable and even comical. He stated that 11 leaflets were distributed to households in the area. Does he realise how many households are here or is he totally removed from reality?
“Instead of making these scurrilous and unbelievable remarks, Councillor Meaney should issue an apology to local residents. The majority of the people want the proposed centre placed in a more suitable location. They never suggested they wanted to abolish such a centre,” he said.
Councillor Meaney said people had identified a fear of teenagers as a problem, which had to be focused on in this debate. The Green Party councillor stressed he didn’t say anything negative about local residents but simply argued that this fear needed to be considered and tackled.
“I encountered the same fear in relation to the provision of a skate park at Lees Road, which is quite popular and is not causing any problems for local residents.
“We already have a youth centre in the centre of Ennis and a number of people living in the area haven’t experienced any negative impact.
“It’s is a pity that residents in this group will not meet with the town council to discuss this issue,” he said.