Letters
to the Editor
Hartstown
Park development
I refer to your headline story in the May issue of the Community
Voice relating to the proposed development at Hartstown Park.
As a local resident I have many concerns at the proposed development
as reported. I estimate that there will be a minimum of 9 additional
soccer teams playing in Hartstown Park if the proposed development is
approved. No additional car parking is proposed, despite the fact that
the existing usage places a strain on the ability of local estates to
manage traffic when matches are being played on Saturdays and Sundays.
It is obvious that the proposed development will take from the available
playing areas and the montage provided on page 2 shows that all GAA
pitches (three, I think) in the area will disappear.
Questions arise regarding the ownership and accessibility of the proposed
club house. Will it be for Verona members and teams or for all soccer
teams using the park? Will it have a bar area as the existing Verona
Clubhouse has? Who will own and manage the facility? What is the justification
for the barbecue area? Where will supplier access for the clubhouse
and coffee shop be located?
As reported, the proposal is totally underdeveloped and could not be
supported. I note that there is no indication of the thinking of the
Verona club management/membership to the proposal.
Yours
etc.
Tom Burke
Hartstown
(full name and address with Editor)
Councillors’
junkets
Dear
Editor,
The
debate over whether our councillors should attend a housing conference
in Brazil in November apparently sharply divided councillors at a recent
council meeting according to your Council Chamber report.
Obviously the costs of such a fully-funded trip are prohibitive but
those opposed to the junket were outvoted and apparently our councillors
will be winging their merry way to Brazil despite the current downturn
and despite the sacrifices being made by, for example, their own council
staff who are currently suffering savage pay cuts.
It should be noted that since 2001 all councillors receive a basic annual
representational payment of €17,604. In addition they can claim
expenses for telephone including mobile use and broadband. Last year
Fingal County Council paid out €161,346.68 in expenses to councillors
according to their website.
The issue of attendance at conferences in Ireland and abroad is a vexatious
one and rightly so. Last year Fingal County Council paid out far in
excess of €80,000 on trips for councillors at home and abroad.
One very 'busy' councillor managed to attend thirteen such conferences.
May I respectfully suggest that 'globe-trotting' councillors pay for
their trips out of their generous representational payment and expenses.
Then it won't matter whether any benefit comes from such attendance.
Yours
etc.
Kay
Roselawn
Castleknock
(full name and address with Editor)
Reader’s
views and comments are always welcome. Please address your letters to
Community Voice, Media House, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin
15 or e-mail editor@communityvoice.ie
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may be withheld if requested.
Community Voice, Media
House, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown,
Dublin 15
Phone +353 1 822 1432 - Fax +353 1 640 4444
info@communityvoice.ie
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