Sir, - Colm McCarthy's article (May 16th) questioning the need for under-utilised parkland in Dublin is a ruse, I thought, as I read it. Surely it is an attempt to engage the public in some rational discourse on the housing crisis by taking such an obstinate view. Mr McCarthy was branded a heretic to even consider that our parks might be used for something other than their intended recreational purposes and thus the matter was closed. Our parks and sports fields are sacrosanct and that's that.
Not so for Marlay Park, a beautiful parkland soon to be promoted as one of the premier attractions in the county. Recently the council diggers have moved in to turn a portion of it into a temporary halting site. This decision by Council officials contravenes the wishes of the local public and their elected representatives who voted against a site being located in the park.
If our local council officials continue to operate in such a manner, showing no accountability to anyone, we might soon see some of our finest amenities turned into bulldozed eyesores. - Yours, etc.,
Patrick Coleman, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.