Dozens of children must walk half a mile across dangerous roads to get into a new playground – despite it being only yards from their front doors.
More than 36 families on the Ard Mhuileann housing estate in Convoy were delighted when a new playground was built in their area.
But a decision not to put another entrance into the playground means they must negotiate traffic and busy roads.
Instead the children must walk across roads and access the playground from its only entrance.
The residents are outraged and claim they have pleaded with the Convoy Community and Environmental Committee, who have developed the playground, to see sense.
Local mother Louise Minnock said it is impossible to tell children they cannot walk through Convoy village to get to the playground.
“It’s like giving children a bag of sweets and telling them they cannot eat them.
“They are going to try to get into the playground and they will walk across busy roads if that’s what it takes.
“Donegal County Council needs to look at this again and realise how dangerous it is.
“It would take a couple of hours to put a new gate into the playground but they are just refusing to do it. They might change their minds when there is an accident,” she said.
Indeed there has already been one death nearby when Louise’s nephew Dylan Minnock, 7, was killed on the Milltown Road in June, 2009 when he crossed the road and was hit by a van.
Local resident Tony Sweeney said he has even offered to open and lock any new entrance to the playground and keep an eye on it.
“They claim they are worried about vandalism if there is another gate put on it but that is nonsense.
“I have offered to get a key and open and shut it. I am in the house most of the time and I will keep an eye on it.
“None of this makes any sense and all they are doing is putting children’s lives in danger. They need to come to their senses,” he said.
Another resident said they suffered for more than six months while trucks and lorries came into their estate building the playground but they never once complained.
Frank Kelly of the Donegal Local Development Company, who provided 75% of the funding for the playground, urged all sides to come together saying the facility should be for everyone to have access to.
A spokesperson for the Convoy Community and Environmental Committee said Donegal County Council only wanted one entrance to the playground.
The council says it fears a build-up of traffic coming into the Ard Mhuileann estate if there is an entrance to the playground.
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