Community groups in Navan are being encouraged to join a planned protest this Saturday (2nd March) in a show of solidarity with the people of Johnstown, who are bringing their frustration with the lack of much-needed amenities to the doors of Meath County Council.
Cllr. Emer Tóibín, Chair of the Johnstown Community Forum says, “Residents are tired of promises but no action, and enough is enough now”.
“I’m hoping the people of Johnstown will mobilise en masse in a bid to get Meath County Council to come good on its repeated promises to provide much needed community infrastructure for the burgeoning local population.”
“We have a whole host of active groups, like boxing, Irish dancing, exercise, basketball, soccer, GAA, volunteer, self-defence to mention but a few who have a large membership base but they have no community centre, no one place that could be an absolute ‘hub’ for the community, it beggars belief really.”
“Johnstown has seen a massive explosion in housing … Meath Co Co started giving planning permission for large scale housing developments in our area nearly 25 years ago. Some 3,500 homes have since been built and the population now stands at over 12,000. Housing continues to be built at pace in this area and this is important for the many who are trying to secure a home.”
“However, the amenities are sadly lacking. We have none to speak of in fact.”
“Johnstown is larger than towns like Dunshaughlin, Kells and Athboy ,yet we don’t have anything even close to the community infrastructure these towns have. It is absolutely wrong that we have had to wait for such simple amenities.”
“We have been campaigning for so many years now for key amenities like a playground, a community centre and playing fields. We’ve received numerous promises from the Council, but shockingly, these promises have come to ‘naught’. Even more baffling and frankly unbelievable is the fact the Council cannot even give us a clear date as to when works might actually commence”.
“The people of Johnstown / Athlumney cannot and will not tolerate any more delays. These amenities are crucial for the social fabric of our community”.
“ So, I’m encouraging all to mobilise at the entrance to Meath County Council offices, Buvinda House, Johnstown on, Saturday, the 2nd of March at 12 noon. It’s really only people power that will make Meath Co Co sit up and finally take action and provide these badly needed facilities.”
“This is a cross party initiative and I invite all elected reps and candidates to please get involved and join us. Together we are stronger and can get this done.”
