Dublin People - Locals fear child may drown in park pool

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Locals fear child may drown in park pool

Wednesday, 09 April 2008

LOCAL residents are warning that a young life will be lost if a park drainage problem is not properly rectified.
The park in Whiteacre, Ballymun, is often filled with a large, deep pool of water due to poor drainage.
The water has proven a popular attraction for local children and locals fear that a youngster will slip unnoticed into the pool and drown.
“Just recently I saw a group of young kids playing in the pond and using old doors to surf across the water,” said local resident Jimmy Boyd.
“Children drown in little baths of water which is why I can’t help but think of how a little accident could turn into something very tragic.”

He added: “That pond had been there for several months and became deeper with every rainfall, although the council finally came to drain it out recently.”
The problem is one which re-occurred after subsequent downpours.
“Draining was just a temporary measure, the matter needs to be resolved permanently,” Mr Boyd said.
“This is a very serious health and safety issue, one which I have raised with Ballymun Regeneration Limited (BRL) and the Health and Safety Authority (HAS) on a number of occasions over the last few months.”
Another local resident, Betty Kane, also fears a life may be lost at Whiteacre Park, which was completed just before Christmas.
“It’s a ridiculous situation,” she told Northside People.
“You couldn’t describe it as a pool; it’s a deep pond which is much deeper in the centre.
“We got letters sent out to us recently which asked parents to accompany their kids in the park area. It’s a park and people should not have to worry that their kids could drown there.”
According to a BRL spokesperson, an investigation into the problem has revealed that the drainage system under the park was blocked and not working properly.
“Due to an increase in rainfall and water levels in the park, and in response to local concerns, BRL began pumping the water out of the park,” the spokesperson explained.
“This was completed two weeks ago and since then a small amount of water has accumulated as a result of rain over the weekends.
“If there is any more rain this water will be pumped away as and when required.”
The spokesperson said that BRL plans to excavate, remove and replace the damaged drainage system once the park has dried out.
“Once it is installed correctly, no water should lodge in the park. BRL is meeting with the contractor in the next two weeks to try to establish a time when the works can take place.”
She added: “Whiteacre Park is designed to flood only in an extreme storm situation when the public drains are overloaded. The size of the park is designed to hold the excess run off from the area until the storm finishes and the drains can eventually drain away the excess water.”

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