Boost for Meakstown community

Orla Dwyer

MEAKSTOWN is to receive a welcome boost of over €2 million for a new community centre, a playground and an upgrade to Lanesborough Park.

An architect has already drawn up plans for the development and the work is expected to be completed over the next three years.

Local residents say the area has been lacking in basic community facilities for years. 

Yvonne Gregg, treasurer of Meakstown Community Council, has been a resident of Meakstown since 2005 and says she’s has experienced the lack of facilities first-hand over the years. 

“What annoyed me was when going to work, I couldn’t even cross the busy main road to get the bus,” she said.

“For the kids, even getting off the bus to go home was extremely dangerous.”

A plan for the new developments was shown to the Community Council in late January by Fingal County Council.

Road infrastructures have improved in the area over the past couple of years but many community amenities are still lacking. 

“At present, we represent 9,000 people in the area,” Gregg said. “It’s hard to believe that with 9,000 people in the area we’ve no community centre, and zero road traffic safety.”

The land at Lanesborough Park was acquired in 2018 by Fingal County Council under a Compulsory Purchase Order. 

The community centre will provide a meeting place for local resident groups, including Meakstown County Council. 

“At the moment, when we want to have our community meetings, we have to go to the pub,” said Gregg.

“At the last meeting we were at, you couldn’t even hear what people were saying as there was a funeral going on or something.

“It will be a central hub. People won’t have to drive there; ideally they will be able to walk to it. 

The path surrounding the park was left unfinished several years ago. Under the new plans, €18,000 will be given to its completion and Meakstown Community Council hopes it will be finished by this summer. 

Another €250,000 will be given towards the upgrade of the park with a total of €2.2 million awarded to the community centre. 

The playground will be a landscaped, woodland-inspired area that will be accessible to all. Gregg said they have been told that works will begin in 2020. 

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin North West, Dessie Ellis, attended the meeting in January about the developments. He told Northside People that the new community centre and playground are absolutely essential for the local area. 

“We built thousands of apartments and houses in the area and no facilities,” said Deputy Ellis. “There is no school in the whole area, there is no community centre, no facilities”

The local TD said he has been arguing with Fingal County Council about the lack of facilities since the houses and apartments were in construction. 

“Things are moving forwards,” he said. “It has been a long time coming.

“It would be nice for residents to be able to meet in their own area and have activities going on.”

Deputy Ellis and Yvonne Gregg both said a school is another missing amenity in the area. Children currently use public transport to attend schools in Glasnevin or Finglas.