This article is from page 31 of the 2007-10-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
THE LACK of facilities for teenagers and older children in the Westbury and Shannon Banks area of Clare is getting youngsters into trouble, a lo- oF: ere) Une Ces US lOvum ery eT seee
Cllr Pascal Fitzgerald is to table a motion for the county council that land be set aside for the building of community centres, sports fields and other facilities which would get young people off the streets.
He is also going to press the local authority to take a unit in the new Westbury centre to open library fa- cilities.
“Parents and teenagers themselves
have come to me saying there’s nothing for them to do. There are no community centres where they could start a youth club, no library facilities where they can access free Internet or borrow books and not enough playing fields or sports facili- ties. They end up hanging around the streets, getting involved in anti-so- cial behaviour,’ Cllr Fitzgerald said.
While progress has been made towards getting playgrounds in the Parteen and Meelick areas and Cor- bally United and the various GAA clubs cater for those interested in GAA and soccer, there are no other sports facilities.
‘There’s nowhere for teenagers to
go to play a game of pool or have a place to meet off the streets. The council is giving permission after permission to build housing estates but they are not putting aside land for community centres or playing fields. This is what is needed and what I will be pushing for.”
Cllr Fitzgerald said he also wants more funding and easier access to grants for community centres and leisure activities.
Cllr Fitzgerald said that he will also be asking the council to look at taking the last remaining empty unit in Westbury for a library. “There is no proper access to library facilities here,’ he said.
While he wants to see younger teenagers off the streets and out of trouble, the Labour councillor also wants to stop older teenagers from drinking in public.
“Tl be talking to the gardai and the county council about enforcing the by-laws on drinking in public places.
These people are over 18 and legal- ly allowed to buy drink but they’re drinking in public and causing trou- ble. They should be warned the first time they’re caught doing it and fined the second time. It’s intimidating for a lot of people to see groups of youths drunk. At best it’s a nuisance, causing noise and litter.”