Palisade fencing around new Athy Pool must be removed - Daly

The surrounding of the new swimming pool in Athy with excessive palisade fencing is a making the building look more like a fort in a troubled area than a public community building according to local Fine Gael councillor Richard Daly

“Having been part of the Swimming Pool Liaison Committee for the past two years I was absolutely appalled to see the erection of palisade fencing around what is to be the Community Swimming Pool. At the meetings we had several discussions on the protection of the car park area from unwanted activities and the landscaping of the area with no mention of fencing.

To the surprise of the committee Kildare County Council have suddenly surrounded the pool and the parking area with unsightly palisade fencing without any discussion with either the residents of the area or the liaison committee which was interfacing between the residents and the development.

Not only is the lack of discussion an insult to the committee but the very erection of the fence is delivering a very wrong signal to the community of Athy. This will be the fourth adjacent premises in public hands which have had this protective fencing installed. It is making the area appear like a neighbourhood under siege instead of an area being developed for the people.

I have tabled a motion to Athy Town Council for the immediate removal of this unsightly barrier in an area which had only recently had CCTV installed. Not only does it act as a physical blight to the local residents but it is also a blatant waste of taxpayers’ money at a time when funding cannot be found for taking the jetties in charge, motorised street sweepers, the development of an Arts centre, hand held parking monitors, the erection of the 1798 monument and many other civic projects.

I feel personally affronted that we have wasted time in discussions with council officials, residents and the developers about the overall development while it was never mentioned that the area was being planned as a security zone. This is not the way we teach people respect for their public buildings.” Said Cllr Daly