Hundreds attend pool meeting

OVER 250 people turned up at a

‘Re-Open Glenalbyn Swimming Pool’ public meeting in Stillorgan recently.

Organised by Independent TD, Shane Ross, and Cllr Deirdre Donnelly (Ind), the meeting was called to discuss the future of Glenalbyn.

The popular pool was closed in December 2013 after a heath and safety report identified significant structural defects in the building’s roof.

A subsequent ‘business case’ report warned of future problems with the pool, and referred to statistics that showed how almost half of the population was more than 40 years of age.

Cllr Donnelly said she remembered attending the first meeting in the reception area following the pool’s closure.

“This was followed by a protest in Stillorgan a few weeks later,

? she recalled.

“We are now 14 months on and we are still waiting for news of a re-opening.

“There has been a lot of miscommunication about the future of Glenalbyn to date so Shane Ross and I organised a public meeting.

“We heard from a large number of attendees. Some were young children who had started learning how to swim there. We also heard from pensioners, teachers, clubs and other affected parties on how the closure of the pool is such a loss to them.

“Although I take on board the rationale for a business case, the purpose of a public pool is to serve the community and should be open to all. As a society, we should be catering for young and old as well as for those with special needs and health issues.

?

Cllr Donnelly said she also had reservations about the demographic argument.

“There are quite a number of schools in the areas that have been let down badly,

? she added,

“Many of the pupils in the local schools come from other areas but attended the swimming classes in Glenalbyn.

“They were not included in the demographics. Glenalbyn pool catered for special needs groups, many whom have not found alternative venues

“A large number of clubs and sporting organisations have been left with nowhere to practice. For example, one member of the water polo team explained how the only alternative for him was the NAC in Blanchardstown.

“Many of those affected do not have their own means of transport and have problems travelling to other venues that are a long distance from Stillorgan.

?

Cllr Donnelly added:

“Over the last few months I have received correspondence from constituents who are looking for a place for their child in school.

“They are on waiting lists. I have seen schools build classrooms to accommodate the extra number of pupils enrolling, and another school will be built locally in 2016 to cater for demand. In a few weeks’ time a new playground will open in Clonmore Park.

“Surely this is an indication that there is a very young population springing up in the Stillorgan/Kilmacud area?

?

Deputy Ross and Cllr Donnelly have since then set up a petition asking for the pool to be re-opened.

There is a direct link to it on Shane Ross’s website, wwwshaneross.ie

A spokesperson for the council previously told Southside People that in March 2014 the Elected Members approved a capital budget which provided

?¬10m for the redevelopment of Glenalbyn pool.

“Given the importance of providing the most suitable leisure provision for the area, it was decided at a council meeting to set up a working group consisting of the six ward councillors in the Stillorgan Electoral Area with the Director of Environment as a non voting convenor to investigate all alternatives,

? the council stated.

“This group will bring recommendations to the council with proposals that will guide public leisure provision in the area for the next 5-10 years.

?