Dear Minister

On Behalf of the Library Location Group Based in Oatfiled/Harelawn in
Clondalkin I am asking you to consider the following,

We are disgusted that the North Clondalkin community development
programme is exploiting innocent school children to further their
campaign for a Library to be built on a Green at Harelawn-Oatfield in
Clondalkin. We strongly object to schools handing out a “Sign if you
want a library” form (which also has an agreement to the proposed
location at Harelawn-Oatfiled added at the bottom) to school kids and
asking them to get their parents to sign it. We Know some schools have
engaged in this and we call on all schools not to get involved.

As part of this we are also informing you, the Minister for Education,
of our deep concerns around this type of peer-pressure manipulation of
our children and are asking you to intervene. It seems that some
members of the community are doing their best to damage the great
community spirit.

We are hearing reports from school children that they must bring back
in the form signed. We currently have 538 objection letters that we
are lodging with the council. We went door to door and explained our
objections and asked adults to sign the Form. We did not engage in
underhanded methods of using children. We also did not engage in a
campaign of mis-information.

Ridiculous Information currently going around is only dividing the
community more. It is time for every local Councillor and TD to firmly
state their position and stop trying to treat local residents like
lower class citizens. We again state that we are in 100% support of a
Library but not on this Green.It has proven difficult, to say the
least, to get some Councillors and any TD’s to meet the group.

Further to this email we invite all local Councillors , TD’s and
Ministers to actively engage with the Library Location Group.

Francis Timmons
Spokesperson – Library Location Group
087 286 9315

*       In January 2014, residents from Oatfield and Harelawn estates in
Clondalkin became aware that South Dublin County Council were planning
to build on the “Green Space” dividing the two estates.
*       Articles published in the Clondalkin Echo and Clondalkin Gazette
Newspapers the following week confirmed that a Library was planned for
the site.
*       South Dublin County Council distributed leaflets in the area
informing residents that a six week period of Public Consultation
would begin with a Public meeting in Rowlagh Community Centre on
Tuesday 4th February.
*       Residents from the two estates that were in attendance at the
meeting got together and formed the “N.C. Library Location Action
Group” on Friday 7th February.
*       A committee was formed comprising of three people from each of the
two estates to keep the residents informed of developments.
*       Francis Timmons PC was approached to become the groups
“Spokesperson” and advise the group in the correct approach to raising
“Objections” to the construction of the library on the site, and to
develop “Submissions” to be handed to our local representatives.

so far over 340 objection letters have been collected

Articles in this weeks Clondalkin Gazette Newspapers and The Echo Newspaper Just to clarify No one is objecting to a Library in North Clondalkin its the site that people are objecting to. The objections are clear and unambiguous.

On behalf of The Library location group I wish to clarify that the main objection is to building on the green space at Oatfield Harelawn and that any rumours of a Health Centre or Drugs centre are untrue and not the bases for the objections that are being signed door to door. We have met some local reps and have asked that other sites be looked at. Any further information required please contact info@francistimmons.com

N.C. LIBRARY LOCATION ACTION GROUP

We would like to make it clear to all concerned that we are 100% committed towards the proposal to construct a new library in North Clondalkin

However we strongly object to the proposed location on the “Green Space” bordering: Collinstown Road, Oatfield Avenue, Oatfield Park, Harelawn Crescent and Harelawn Avenue on the following grounds:

Focal Point: The “Green” has been the central focal point of the Rowlagh Parish community since 1982, a period of 32 years.  It has provided a safe easily monitored off-street area for the young children of the neighbouring estates to play

Neighbourhood/Landscape: Residents in the estates bordering the “green” purchased their properties and endured many years of heavy mortgage repayments based on the expectation that landscape would mature but not change drastically.  The location of the green was an important deciding factor in their initial decision to purchase and settle here.    

Mental health:  the rates of depression and suicide are very high in north Clondalkin.  Open spaces like this are vital to the health and well-being of the surrounding residents.  Open spaces help people relax and escape from oppressive built up areas.  This will have the greatest impact on the residents of Oatfield park who currently have an open unobstructed view.

Anti-Social behaviour & Vandalism:  Anti-social behaviour in the area has been allowed to occur with little or no intervention by the authorities.  We feel locating the library on the green could potentially exacerbate anti-social behaviour in the area.  A building such as a library should be protected and bordered on three sides with the front of the building accessible to the public.  The inclusion of 2.8metre fencing in the plans supports this assertion.  Locating the library on the green without adequate security could potentially put financial strain on the council due to the higher than normal maintenance costs

Traffic:  residents are particularly concerned about the increase in traffic levels and on-street parking within the bordering estates which will be dangerous to children and obstruct access to emergency services and local authority vehicles

St Marks Green Update – Page 1 and 2 of the Gazette this week (31-10-13)

St Marks Green update – Page 1 and 4 of the Clondalkin Echo (24th October 2013)

Please ring our 4 local TDs re St Marks Green open space and play area. we are not against the building of social housing we are against building on St. Marks Green and no consultation with local residents Robert Dowds – 087 6520 360 Joanna Tuffy – 01 618 3000 Derek Keating – 087 285 7435 Frances Fitzgerald – 01 618 3771 & 01 457 7712

Press Statement