Castlebar skate park approved despite local concerns

CASTLEBAR Municipal District have given the green light for a new skateboard park despite concerns from local people.

Part 8 planning approval for a skatepark beside the access to the Lough Lannagh leisure complex in Castlebar was granted despite concerns over its proximity to a busy road and potential increased noise and antisocial behaviour.

Maura Lavelle, a resident of St Patrick’s Park in Castlebar, said residents were opposed to the location of the new skate park when they addressed the monthly meeting of Castlebar Municipal District.

The skate part is due to be completed in three phases, starting with ‘a dedicated area tailored to beginners’ with gentle slopes, low-lying rails, and wide-open spaces, followed by additional obstacles in the next two phases.

“We appreciate the initiative to find recreational facilities for the community in Castlebar but we have great concerns about the proposed location. We feel that there are other locations within even the Lough Lannagh area that could be used,” she said

Ms Lavelle, who attended the meeting alongside fellow St Patrick’s Park residents Geraldine Moran and Anne Murray, said they were ‘not opposed to a skatepark for Castlebar’ but took issue with its proximity to their homes and the main road.

She said that residents have had ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour in their vicinity with boy racers and ‘drinking parties’ in the nearby cemetery.

In a submission to Mayo County Council, residents suggested a number of alternative sites for the skate park, including the rear of the tennis court.

“We have nothing against the skaters, it’s more the people who it will attract afterwards,” said Ms Lavelle.

Cllr Al McDonnell said he visited the skatepark in Westport, where he spoke to skatepark users and local residents.

Cllr McDonnell said there had been no complaints about anti-social behaviour and formed the opinion that disruption to residents in Castlebar would be minimal.

His Fianna Fáil colleague, Cllr Blackie Gavin, supported the residents and suggested that the skatepark be built at a site at Knockaphunta where Mayo County Council has applied for €12 million in funding for a new sports campus.

Planning has already been granted for the site at Knockaphunta, which had been earmarked for development under Phase 2 of the development of the new swimming pool at Lough Lannagh.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said he ‘fully’ supported a new skate park in Castlebar but proposed that the Part 8 be passed subject to the location being changed.

David Mellett, Head of Castlebar Municipal District, said that the €123,000 allocated for the project under the Community Recognition Fund had to be spent by November if the Part 8 was not approved.

Mr Mellett said that ‘a number of different sites’ had been considered for the skate park - including the Mall and the Castlebar Town Park - before the proposed location was chosen.

He added that an amendment of the scale proposed by Cllr Kilcoyne would not be covered by the existing Part 8. Mr Mellett also ruled out using the site at Knockaphunta suggested by Cllr Gavin, which he said did not have the required planning permission for a skate park.

John Condon, Director of Services for the Castlebar Municipal District, said that the Part 8 allowed for the location of the skate park to be moved within the confines of the red boundary on the planning documents, but not outside it.

“The reason for this is simple. It was advertised, people saw it, they decided whether they wanted to support it or oppose it. If you’re going to move it somewhere else, people who mightn’t oppose it, might. Logically, you can’t do that,” said Mr Condon.

Cllr Kilcoyne’s motion was supported by Cllr Gavin but was defeated after Cllr Cyril Burke (Fine Gael), Cllr Ger Deere (Fine Gael), Cllr Harry Barrett (Independent) and Cllr Al McDonnell opposed it when a vote was taken on the matter.