By Chris Ashmore

THE establishment – or indeed re-establishment – of residents’ committees could be an important step in the battle to overcome vandalism and other forms of anti-social behaviour, it was suggested at the July meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council.

Noting the demise of many residents’ associations since Covid, Councillor Gerry McMonagle said that it was important, as a local authority, to get the tenant liaison officer to contact residents to see about getting residents’ committees up and running again.

His comment came during a discussion about vandalism in the Glendale Drive area of the town.

Raising the issue, Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh said that the play area had been subjected to vandalism on a number of occasions.

He added that the surface had been “torn up” a number of times, and it had been replaced by the council.

He said that there is now a big hole in the middle which could be dangerous.

He said that there was a need to monitor the playground, and he noted that what had once been an “active” residents’ association was no longer in place.

Cllr. Gerry McMonagle, who seconded the motion calling for a plan to manage the play area, said that there seemed to be “a number of young people who seem intent on causing mayhem” in the area.

He said that the council had spent “a lot of money” and wondered whether they should look at installing CCTV in the area.

“It’s great to have a wee park like this and we should protect this asset,” he stated.

In response to the debate, a senior council official confirmed that the local authority is looking at “pro-actively engaging” with residents’ associations.

Indeed, the council is supportive of moves to form residents’ associations as there is funding available that can be drawn down.