Ballymastone car park in ‘desperate state’ and needs resurfacing, says TD

The car park at Ballymastone sports grounds in Donabate is in a “desperate state” and is in a dire need of resurfacing, according to local Labour TD Duncan Smith.

Deputy Smith and local Labour representative Corina Johnston are calling on Fingal County Council to “urgently address” the matter as they say it is a serious health and safety concern.

Fingal County Council resurfaced the carpark earlier this year after concerns were raised from users of the grounds.

“It is incredible that the car park surface has returned to the desperate state it was a few months ago when we had an on-site meeting when temporary repairs were proposed by the council,” Deputy Smith said.

“This reinforces what we stressed at the meeting, that the remedial work would not be the long-term solution required by the clubs and parents and as a result we would be revisiting this issue very shortly.”

Corina Johnston says the uneven and loose surface is becoming more of a concern as the evenings become shorter.

“As we enter into the dark evenings this project must be deemed a priority to avoid injury for the many children who are dropped off and collected at the car park.

“At an on-site meeting earlier this year, arranged by Duncan Smith TD, the council undertook to carry out remedial work on the car park.

“In view of the failure of the council to resolve these on-going issues, the patience of parents, who have to drop and collect their children at this location has run out.

“The permanent resurfacing of the car park is the only solution and we call on the council to acknowledge this and undertake to carry out the work as quickly as possible,” she said.

A recent tabled at a local area committee meeting asked the council to “prioritise” the construction of the new entrance road and cycle path into the Ballymastone Recreational Hub “given the serious safety concerns being expressed by parents”.

In response the council said: “The request for the development of this new access is acknowledged.

“This work will be progressed through the relevant procurement process having regard to the need for the provision of these facilities.”

Johnston said: “We are calling on Fingal County Council to acknowledge the real concerns of parents and club members accessing the Ballymastone sports grounds and that temporary recurring solutions are becoming costly for the council and not the answer.

“Hopefully on this occasion the council will respond favourably. “