Playground equipment to be replaced in Ballinahown

Photo: Fine Gael Cllr John Dolan.

Broken playground equipment is set to be replaced in Ballinahown courtesy of a grant of €7,500 from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

It follows the inspection by a independent consultant of all 13 playgrounds in Athlone-Moate Municipal District under the responsibility of Westmeath County Council earlier this year, a council meeting heard on Monday.

A written question on the condition and cost of repairs/replacement of equipment in local playgrounds was submitted by local Cllr John Dolan at the monthly Athlone-Moate Municipal District meeting.

“A number of particular issues were identified in the Ballinahown playground for which the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has awarded the Council a grant of €7,500,” a written reply from the council stated.

Speaking afterwards, Cllr Dolan (FG) said that a number of pieces of broken play equipment had to be taken out from the playground which is located in Ballinahown Sportspark alongside a community walkway and the soccer pitch in recent times. He welcomed the news that the equipment will be replaced shortly.

However, Cllr Dolan said the same issue is going to crop up elsewhere for council playgrounds and funds need to be set aside by the local authority for equipment in the future.

“It's an issue going forward that needs to be addressed – there needs to be a dedicated fund for playgrounds in the county,” he pointed out following the council meeting, adding that many of the play amenities were put in around the same time and through wear and tear equipment will need to be replaced in the coming months and years.

According to the council's reply, a small number of repair/replacement/theft issues were identified in the remainder of the playgrounds under council control in the district. These can be costed and a summary report circulated to the members, the reply ended.

Over in nearby Castledaly, Cllr John Dolan said the community playground there was unable to reopen in recent times after their public liability insurer left the market and the local group responsible for the amenity was unable to get a replacement.

Happily, he reported on Wednesday that Westmeath County Council will allow the group to go on the council policy for public liability which should allow the amenity to reopen to locals in the coming weeks.