Church of Scientology playground approved
By Aideen O'Flaherty
PLANS for the development of a playground and the erection of two CCTV poles at the site of the Church of Scientology in Firhouse have been given the green light by South Dublin County Council, despite attracting three separate third-party objections and being unanimously objected to by councillors at a local area committee meeting last month.
The Church of Scientology lodged an application for planning permission with the council in January, seeking permission for the development of a playground, alongside plans for the construction of a new internal lobby area to the rear of the existing building.
The Church of Scientology received approval for a playground and erection of two CCTV poles
Provisions for the erection of a timber-clad fence around a proposed bins and garden equipment store and the erection of two CCTV camera poles with a height of 4.5 metres were included in the application, and it is proposed that a new footpath and zebra crossing leading to the centre will be constructed.
The plans were discussed at last month’s Rathfarnham and Templeogue/Terenure Area Committee meeting, where concerns were raised by councillors relating to a change of use for the site, and data protection concerns regarding the installation of CCTV.
The councillors unanimously objected to the plans during the meeting, with Rathfarnham Sinn Fein councillor Sarah Holland commenting afterwards that “there is a creeping suspicion that plans to install a playground are to entice [local people] into the centre, where people would be encouraged to join their group.”
The organisation’s application also amassed three separate third-party objections from Firhouse Village Community Council, Carly Bailey, who is a Firhouse resident and vice-chair of the Social Democrats, and Howth resident Christian Morris.
Firhouse Village Community Council cited concerns about change of use and the playground plans, stating that “any children’s playground should be for all children, which the proposed playground will not be because parents who do not subscribe to the beliefs of Scientology will not allow their children to go there.”
They also outlined SDCC’s plans for a playground development in the area and stated that funding has already been allocated for that development, and as such they say that there is “no need” for SDCC to grant permission for the development.
4.5 metre CCTV poles
Ms Bailey’s objection contained the statement that the planned 4.5 metre CCTV poles will enable the centre to monitor “a much greater area” than its own perimeter.
She also stated concerns about the potential for increased traffic, and the potential for teenagers and children to go to the playground unaccompanied, and as such Ms Bailey enquired as to whether the centre staff “have the necessary child protection training and child safety statements”.
Elsewhere, Mr Morris’s objection centred on the potential for a grant of permission for the development leading to a “conflated use” of the site, and that the planned use of CCTV would be “excessive”.
The Church of Scientology’s director of public affairs, Diana Stahl, told The Echo: “The playground will be available for the use of families and it will not be supervised by our volunteers.
“The CCTV cameras will cover only our premises and the areas needed to prevent anti-social behaviour in and around the playground.”
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