Ballykinlar mothers seeking an end to their 14 years of waiting

Ballykinlar mothers seeking an end to their 14 years of waiting

7 March 2012 - by MICHAEL McMULLAN

MOTHERS from an isolated local village are to step up a campaign for a new playground after a 14 year wait.

The Ballykinlar mums are calling on Down Council to devote more resources to providing playgrounds in rural villages rather than building so many in the larger towns.

It was back in 1998 that plans for a playground in Ballykinlar were first unveiled during a public meeting in the village. However, since then nothing has happened and parents are forced to drive children to other towns to let them play.

Now the mothers feel they have waited long enough and are stepping up their campaign through the Parents and Toddlers Group to persuade the council to provide a playground.

Anne-Marie Dillon of the group expressed her frustration at the lack of facilities for children in the village.

“It’s a bit of a nuisance having to travel to the likes of Ardglass, Downpatrick or Newcastle just so our kids can go to a playground,” she said on Monday in Newcastle.

Jacqueline Burrows, mother of nine month-old Eva, said in her lifetime there has been nowhere for kids to play in Ballykinlar.

“The fact that this is

still the case today is astounding and yet there is still nothing being done about it. From all the time I can remember there was never anywhere for kids to play, and this is still the case now,” she said.

She said she could not understand why places, such as Downpatrick which has an abundance of playgrounds, has recently received another one.

The group is concerned that the recent incidents of vandalism on other playgrounds may have an impact on their plans but Mrs. Dillon has discussed the idea of teenagers being involved in the playground plans as well.

She thinks rather than young people being seen as having a negative impact, they should be consulted and asked if there was anything they would like to see in the play areas,

“It seems teenagers are seen in a negative light, but I think this is because nobody has asked them what they want or if they have any ideas to offer,” she said.

She they residents know they are embarking on a long process but they are ready for it, “We just want to start the ball rolling and make people take notice of us,” she said.