Fair play demanded for Laois community's playground plan

A community group in Trumera should not have to go through the same planning process to build a playground as if they were building a house, according to Laois county councillors.

Instead, the public representatives believe the process should be dealt with via the so-called Part VIII process which would allow the councillors to give the green light.

However, a senior council official has insisted that planning permission is needed because it does not fall within the rules of the exemption process.

Dissatisfaction with the stance taken by Laois County Council was voiced at a recent meeting between public representatives and management after Cllr James Kelly, Independent, received a reply to a motion he tabled.

He called on County Hall to provide an update with timelines for the provision of the outdoor playground at Trumera Community Hall.

Pamela Tynan, Acting Senior Executive Officer, Community Section replied in writing.

“Funding was approved under the CLÁR 2022 programme to Trumera Community Hall Committee to develop a small community play area in the grounds of Trumera Community Hall.

“A suitable site has been selected and the community group have been advised that they will need to progress with an outline design through the planning process. Laois County Council is providing advice to the group as required,” she said.

Cllr Kelly welcomed the reply but not the planning requirement. He explained that the site earmarked for the playground is across the road from the new school.

“I know for a fact that there are playgrounds that did not have to go through the planning process. A number of playgrounds have received Part VIII exemptions meaning they don’t have to look for planning,” he said.

He called on the council to do the same for Trumera.

“Let's work with the community to do this as soon as possible,” he said.

Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, backed this call and listed the new Riocht an Spraoi Borris-in-Ossory playground in his home area as benefiting from the Part VIII process.

“The Trumera playground is only a fraction of the size of some of the other playgrounds…They are going to have to go to the expense of putting together a planning application,” he said.

He warned that what's being asked threatens the project.

“The reason projects things fail is things like this. They hinder projects and communities,” he said.

He felt it was now a matter for Laois County Council's most senior official John Mulholland.

“I would like the chief executive to step in. I think there is absolutely no reason they should go for full planning for this playground. They should be able to avail of the exemption to get this up and running as soon as possible.

“If we go down this road we are hitting small communities with stacks of paperwork tying them up in bureaucracy. All it will do is put them off applying for these types of projects.

“Our slogan in Laois County Council is working with the community and we really need to do that here,” he said. 

Cllr Paddy Bracken, Fianna Fáil, said it was no different to other playgrounds as it was for public use. “I think it’s a bit unfair,” he said.

Cllr Ollie Clooney, the Independent, also wanted the council to make it easier for the community group. He wants the council to take more responsibility for playgrounds and other facilities. He said schools are full in Portlaoise and the Trumera project was an example of something that encouraged people to live in small communities.

“You should be giving them more help and not put obstacles in their way,” he said.

Cllr John King, Fine Gael, also agreed.

Laois County Council’s Director of Services Donal Brennan replied that the council had considered the proposal and decided that the Trumer project did not qualify for Part VIII. He said the scale and type of project differs from those mentioned by councillors.

“This isn’t so much a playground as a smaller play area,” he said.

He said it differed from the nearby playground in Mountrath is subject to council maintenance and the council also works with the local committee on insurance.

“It has been looked at it was thought to be better for the long-term development that it goes through the planning permission process,” he said.

Mr Brennan said he suspected that planning fees would not apply as it was a community project. 

“It is only a matter of submitting the files and going through the planning process,” he said.

He explained further that Part VIII projects are primarily aimed at local authority projects but it can also cover projects not developed by the council but where it is involved subsequently. He said the council would not be managing the Trumera project after it is completed and so would not meet the criteria.

He added that it would take the same time for the project to go through the planning permission process as the Part VIII process. He also insisted that Part VIII is not a planning exemption.

The issues were raised at the recent Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Mountmellick Municipal District meeting.