Traffic congestion leads to playground closure

INDISCRIMINATE parking of cars along a narrow country road in a residential area has led to the temporary closure of the state-of-the-art €187,000 Cratloe playground during weekends and bank holidays.
Residents in Gallows Hill are up in arms over the difficulties they encounter when entering and exiting their homes, as motorists visiting Cratloe Woods and the nearby playground are parking across their driveways. They are also worried that anti-social behaviour could return to haunt them, with claims that some outsiders are sleeping overnight in a Coillte car park after the removal of a barrier.
However, concern has been expressed that families and children will suffer from the loss of the valuable recreational amenity if the closure calls are heeded.
Residents’ concerns have prompted the closure of the playground on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays for the foreseeable future. According to a statement issued by Cratloe Community Playground Co-op, this decision has regretfully had to be taken for health and safety reasons.
“Visitors are coming from far and wide to see this wonderful, 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.
“There are other entrances to the woods available from the Meelick Gate (4km walk or cycle) or via the Grotto in Cratloe Village (up the steps). If there is no parking space available, then perhaps visit the local shop, pubs or one of the other excellent playgrounds in the area, such as Sixmilebridge, Shannon or Shelbourne Park in Limerick and return later,” the statement explained.
“Coillte are currently exploring the option of extending their car park facility and Clare County Council is considering the installation of double yellow lines. In the interim, we would ask that anyone using the facilities at the woods to never park on the road. Anyone doing so is not welcome in the playground.
“We will continue for the coming weeks to close on Sundays and Bank Holidays or other days where the volume of traffic is likely to be severe. This will hopefully allow some breathing space and a “cooling off period” for a solution to the problem to be found and put in place. Updates as they occur will be available on our Facebook page – Cratloe Community Playground,” the statement added.
Shortly after the playground in Cratloe Woods was opened, it was inspected by a safety officer, who rated it as one of the best in the country. While Councillor PJ Ryan is reluctant to support calls for its closure, he insists a solution will have to be found, as residents can’t continue to experience huge inconvenience during extremely busy weekends.
“The playground is a victim of its own success. There are huge numbers visiting the playground, with people travelling from places outside the parish, particularly on a fine Sunday. Almost €200,000 has been spent on this playground when you factor in the planning and time spent by the committee and its promoters.
“At least three or four people couldn’t get in and out of their own property one Sunday because of indiscriminate parking. I proposed at a recent Shannon Electoral Area meeting the car park should increase.
“However, residents believe this will only create a bigger problem and preliminary work was halted after it was decided planning permission was needed,” he noted.
“I also proposed that double yellow lines would be provided. This would require bylaws and the council didn’t seem very interested in doing it. If double yellow lines were provided, they would have to be policed. I can’t see gardaí coming out on patrols every day.
“It is a very volatile situation. Residents are very angry. I have got numerous phone calls over this issue from concerned residents. Residents are concerned when their children want to walk to the playing pitches in Cratloe,” Councillor Ryan added.
Mary O’Dwyer, who has an adult daughter with special needs and epilepsy, is worried that an ambulance could get delayed in the event of an emergency for a walker using the woods or a local householder. She also raised her own daughter’s well being, as she is at risk of suffering from seizures.
Gallows Hill resident Michael Chaplin claimed the playground was built in haste without proper consultation and an environmental impact study.
He proposed the playground should be relocated or closed if residents continue to experience problems gaining access to and from their own homes, due to the lack of adequate parking to deal with the huge influx of people, particularly at weekends. He also opposes plans for a major new car park in Cratloe Woods, amid fears that antisocial behaviour could return to haunt residents.
“All I want is for my children to be able to walk down to the local GAA field and feel safe. The local GAA club has, with the help of the community, spent a lot of money on new facilities for young people, which they should be able to use.
If the car park extension goes ahead, I am afraid it will only make the situation worse.
“We didn’t want the car park in its present location and this is the last place it should have been put. Overall, I hope common sense will prevail and a solution will be found to deal with the residents’ problems,” he said.
Another local resident, who didn’t wish to be named, claimed a petition signed by about 80 residents opposing a planning application for the playground was ignored by the Clare County Council, who subsequently gave it the green light.
The resident pointed out the unsuitability of placing a playground near a narrow country road and the associated problems that have arisen were outlined in detail to the committee before the facility was built.
He also expressed scepticism about whether increasing the size of the existing car park would alleviate the problem.
“It is hard to express a definitive view on any car park when we don’t know what size it is supposed to be. What will happen if we get a fine weekend in May, June and July? Extending the car park will only result in a bigger influx of people into this area, which is struggling to cope with existing numbers. Will we have another 50 or 60 cars parked on the side of a public road causing mayhem during any fine weekend,” he asked.