Oldcastle playground closed due to safety fears

The only playground in Oldcastle has been closed to the public on foot of safety concerns.

Meath County Council closed the playground last week as repair works are required on the facilities.

A spokesperson for the council confirmed that the closure came about following routine inspections by Meath County Council and feedback from users and concerned parties.

According to north Meath Sinn Féin councillor, Johnny Guirke, the issue of deterioration at the playground was raised with Meath County Council a number of months ago.

'This has been ongoing for months,' he said. 'Eventually the playground got dangerous and they just closed it down.' Cllr Guirke believes that the deterioration is due to natural causes over time.

The playground now has a number of broken ropes and platforms as a result of poor upkeep over the years, he said. This has made the playground a dangerous venue for the local children who frequent it.

To date, Cllr Guirke said he has received almost 50 calls in relation to the closure and has called on Meath County Council to address the issue urgently.

'We have been told that it's going to be re-ropened in the next couple of weeks, but I would call for it as a matter of urgency for the kids of the area,' he said.

'It's the only playground in the town so it’s a big issue for the people of Oldcastle,' he added. 'If they wait much longer, the summer will be over.'

Meath County Council has confirmed that it intends to carry out the repairs in the coming weeks, once the necessary parts are delivered.

This isn't the first time Oldcastle playground has been raised as a cause for concern. In January 2009, a hardcore antisocial element, including drug dealers, were reported to be congregating in the playground during the dark winter evenings.