Community council seeks to protect the value of local land
FACILITIES Cllr Joe Bonner caught up in case of mistaken identity over proposals to de-zone recreational lands
Ashbourne Community Council has claimed its efforts to protect the value of its community centre lands “has been used as a political football.”
The community group has moved to clarify it stance on the zoning of its lands at the Community Centre which recently underwent a major refurbishment.
The community group wants to retain its current zoning and Cllr Joe Bonner has warned that if the zoning is removed it may deprive the community of future facilities “due to the lack of collateral if these lands are devalued”.
Claims circulating on social media that Cllr Joe Bonner wants houses built on community centre grounds had led to a petition, which has since been deleted, being circulated on social media. Cllr Bonner hit back saying he has never proposed houses be built in the area.
“Houses are not going to be built on the community centre lands now or in the future. “Recent comments that I am going to build houses there are totally untrue and indeed gravely hurtful to me and my supporters,” he said.
Meanwhile Ashbourne and District Community Council indicated it doesn't want dezoning of its lands at Ashbourne community centre. Cllr Bonner has said he wanted to see the current zoning on the community centre grounds retained so the community council doesn't lose its asset value and can still use it for leverage in taking out loans and getting grants.
The current zoning on the land allows for development and the county council is proposing dezoning the land.
Tom Mulvaney, Chairman of Ashbourne & District Community Council (ADCC) issued a statement in which he said the grounds at the community centre are a community asset and all “public representatives, political activists and the residents of Ashbourne should be working to ensure that the lands remain zoned A2 as de-zoning the land reduces the value of this asset.”
He pointed out that the current zoning has been in place since 2008 and as the council officials propose dezoning the land, the community council asked Cllr Joe Bonner to submit a motion to Meath County Council for ADCC to retain the current zoning. “ADCC also hired the services of Town Planning Consultant Joe Bonner, (a different Joe Bonner) to prepare a submission on the Draft Development Plan to Meath Co Council. “Ashbourne & District Community Council (ADCC) is non political and are not involved in political activities or debates.
“However in recent times the community centre grounds have become a political football by some party political activist by giving inaccurate information to our residents,” Mr Mulvany said.
Cllr Bonner said that houses are not going to be built on the community centre lands now or in the future.
“My opinion would be that the existing zoning should remain on these lands to ensure the asset value of the land is not lost to the community. It is very important that nothing changes ensuring that the community council have the opportunity to get loans, grants etc for the continuous improvement of the community centre complex.
“With regard to the zoning at the community centre lands – this has been in place since 2007/2008 - 13 years ago. “ He quoted the council reason for zoning at that time as “to accommodate the existing and future recreational and community needs of Ashbourne in order to achieve the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
“The zoning is necessary to ensure a balanced approach to development of the lands.”
Cllr Bonner has a long history of battling for community facilities.
He brought the county council and a developer to the High Court in a row over community facilities which resulted in a deal where he secured €1 million for a development project at the community centre and a community house at Broadmeadow Castle.