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Resident highlights estate's problems

Thursday, 11 March 2010

A RESIDENT of the north county Dublin housing estate that was at the centre of a dispute that led to Trevor Sargent’s resignation has spoken out about the problems in his community. Garrett Mullan, a member of Cardy Rock Residents’ Association in Balbriggan, said that despite a media circus descending on the area in recent weeks, issues affecting the local community were never mentioned. Mr Mullan said the controversy surrounding Deputy Trevor Sargent’s leaked letters and an incident at the estate failed to give any mention to the real problems plaguing the area. Mr Mullan feels the local community have been left with very few amenities and this is causing some children to resort to anti-social behaviour. Also, ongoing vandalism in the area has caused insurance premiums for some apartment owners to double in recent months. “The issue of vandalism has been an ongoing one in the estate,” Mr Mullan told Northside People. “In our estate there is no green area for children to play and no area for young people to hang out. Given the structure of the estate, they tend to gravitate towards the centre of it. “Vandalism that arises from boredom is obviously a cause for distress and grievance on the part of residents. “The media circus outside our apartment block shed little light on the issues facing our community.” Mr Mullan said locals were good people living in a nice area but were suffering because of a lack of adequate community facilities. “We have an active residents’ association that tries to get its voice heard by politicians and agencies to ensure services are developed to meet the needs of the area,” he stated.  “Just last year, 45 households attended the launch of our Neighbourhood Watch scheme and scores of residents and their kids participated in estate clean-ups. “However, parents cannot walk their kids to school up Hamlet Lane because there is no footpath. “Many cars have been smashed at the junction of our estate over the past number of years because of the lack of traffic lights.” Mr Mullan believes there has been “little or no thought” given to the development of community facilities for the 5,000 houses that have been built locally in the past few years. “Three full-time youth workers in a town of 18,000 is not enough to meet these needs,” he said. “More than 5,000 people are unemployed in Balbriggan and yet there is no social welfare office in the town.”  Mr Mullan has called for nearby Bremore Castle to be developed as a tourist amenity and also as a facility for local youths. “Its grounds remain an eyesore to passers-by, while kids in local estates lack the facilities they need for their free time,” he added. “Apartments and houses have been packed together in the area without allowing for space for children and others to enjoy.”