Solution sought at Cratloe playground

A LONG-term solution has to be found to resolve the ongoing crux surrounding the closure of the €187,000 Cratloe Community Playground at weekends, according to a local county councillor.
The Clare Champion has learned that a meeting between Cratloe Community Playground Co-op and concerned residents who have been adversely affected by indiscriminate parking will take place next Wednesday at 9pm.
Councillor PJ Ryan stressed a resolution has to be found to facilitate the reopening of the playground with the approval of local residents.
He hopes that Coillte will be in a position to provide extra land to facilitate parking, while the law has to be enforced concerning illegal parking on a narrow country road.
While the playground is open during the week, the committee have set up a new rota system to act as marshals handing out leaflets and advising people they can’t park on the country road.
The marshals monitor the situation and once the area becomes too busy particularly during a fine day at the weekend, they shut the playground at short notice. The playground was closed from 1 to 5pm on Sunday.
However, Councillor Ryan has stressed it isn’t sustainable for the committee to provide marshals on an ongoing basis and this group recently appealed to people in the community to assist them in their patrols.
The committee has stressed that everyone must take care of the “wonderful amenity” on the doorstep of people in the locality and take into consideration the needs of local residents by not parking across their driveways or in an area, which might cause an obstruction.
A recent statement from the group acknowledged visitors are coming from far and wide to see this natural playground and those who previously were regular visitors now stay longer. 
“This has lead to vastly increased volumes of traffic in the locality and particularly in the immediate area at the entrance to the woods. The congestion caused is extremely worrying from a health-and-safety point of view for the local residents and for the many visitors. 
“Cars are parking along both sides of the narrow roadway, which dangerously restricts movement of traffic, causing an obstruction, which could lead to emergency vehicles being prevented from getting through.
“In addition, children and families are putting themselves and others in danger as they go to and from these cars parked along the roadside,” the committee stated.