Hundreds sign petition for boys’ football club

A PETITION of over 1,500 signatures was presented to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council last week, asking for a new car park for one of the biggest schoolboy football clubs in the country.

The petition was signed by parents of children of Joseph’s Boys Football AFC in Sallynoggin, and local residents from the area.

It was prompted by growing concerns for the safety of children in the area due to hazardous parking conditions due to the expansion of the club.

St Joseph’s Boys AFC Sallynoggin and the Sallynoggin Neighbourhood Watch (SNW) jointly presented the petition highlighting the need for off road parking to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

George Forsyth, the chairman of St Joseph’s, said it was one of the largest schoolboy football clubs in the country with more than 600 members.

He explained that with up to 15 teams training every evening and 1,000 plus people attending matches on Saturdays and Sundays the need for off road parking had become a priority.

“The volume of cars has steadily increased in recent years and residents have become prisoners in their own driveways as people park in front of their gate,

? he said.

“The increase in the number of cars has caused a major concern for the safety of both home and visiting players.

“It is only a matter of time before a child is killed or injured as cars are parked on both sides of the road.

?

James McCann, Chairperson of the SNW and Fianna Fáil Local Election candidate for Dún Laoghaire, collected the signatures on behalf of residents.

Mr McCann said residents in the area were hugely concerned about the possibility of an accident and the general inconvenience the volume of parked cars is causing.

“This problem has been going on for a long time now and it needs to be resolved as soon as possible in the best interests of both the residents and visitors to the club,

? he said.

“We are calling on the County Manager to take immediate action to resolve this issue.

?

A spokesperson for the council said their Parks Department had, over the years, been in frequent contact with St Joseph’s Football Club regarding the development of the open space, improved recreational facilities and car parking.

“While the club has requested and obtained improved facilities, which include three junior all-weather pitches, both the club and the council are conscious of the requirement for parking facilities,

? the council’s spokesperson said.

“The council is happy to meet with the club and other interested parties to explore the various options available.

“These options include the provision of additional/improved on street parking in the vicinity, the provision of car parking within the footprint of the existing open space or revised scheduling of fixtures to reduce numbers arriving at the site at any one time.

?

The spokesperson added:

“It should be noted, however, that no funding has been identified for any construction works and that further public consultation will be required before any works take place.

?