Residents in fight to stop development on local green space
Angry residents in a housing estate in Ashbourne who have been fighting to save the only remaining green space they have access to say they were “horrified” to wake up earlier this week to activity being carried out on the site that has a live planning application.
Residents in Millbourne in Ashbourne describe being “shocked” to discover the site fenced-off and machinery occupying the green area.
Last year Meath Co Council sought further information from Rybo Partnership who submitted a planning application to build three apartment blocks on the green. The deadline for this submission was February 22nd. It is believed that workers were carrying out site investigation work.
The green area although on the same grounds as Millbourne, is owned by a separate developer, Rybo Partnership who previously said: “The green land does not form part of the Millbourne housing estate and never did. This land has been in our ownership for many years and still is – it is private property.”
Children in Millbourne locked out of play area
This has been a long-standing battle for the residents in Millbourne who came out in force last year to protest over the proposed development that if given the go-ahead will leave residents with no green area.
Sarah Foley, chairperson of Millbourne Resident's Association says residents are not giving up the fight.
"Residents are up in arms and annoyed because there is no planning permission granted yet. There is a sign up saying construction site so we don't know what that's about.
"It has put the fire back in our bellies to fight this more. In the last county development plan, it stated that every housing estate should have 15% green space.
"The existing open space we have corresponds to 11% so even that is substandard and we have had to fight strongly for two and a half years to retain it.
"There have now been three failed attempts to build on this only small piece of green space available to Millbourne residents. An Bord Pleanala has twice refused permission to build these apartments, the last one in 2018 citing the reason that it would and I quote “seriously injure the residential amenities of existing and future residents of the area.”
Local children with artwork displaying how much they want green space to play
So they are classing this as part of our greenspace in Millbourne.
"And yet Meath Co Council with all this information and knowledge have not made a decision but delayed the process.
"It is very frustrating and a lot of residents are very angry because we are all hard-working people. Mental health is a big topic at the moment, what is it doing to our mental health or the mental health of our children in the future who will have nowhere to play?
"There are families here that are getting up early in the morning to go to work and coming home after a long day and having to fight for a green space for their children. That is just not right.
"It's heartbreaking when you have worked so long to get your feet on the property ladder."
Cllr Joe Bonner commented:
"The energy has been zapped out of the community fighting for this small piece of green space and I think it should be handed over to the community. The area has the worst under provision of green space that I have ever seen. This development will not go ahead on my watch."
Meath Co Council has said:
"The fencing in question is temporary fencing which does not require planning permission.
"There is a current planning application on this site which was subject to a Further Information request & therefore we cannot comment further at this point in time.
"Every application is assessed on its merits. It is open to members of the public to make submissions on planning applications.
"The site in question is zoned residential in the current Ashbourne Local Area Plan ( & in current Draft County Development Plan ).
"It is open to members of the public to make submissions on the Draft County Development Plan if they so wish."