Brosna viewing platform and ‘perch’ seats problem

Potential anti-social behaviour is standing in the way of a viewing area at the River Brosna in Mullingar Town Park, and perch seats, designed to discourage loitering and anti-social behaviour, are problematic for some users.

Cllr Bill Collentine wants “a little viewing area” overlooking the Brosna in the town park and Cllr Andrew Duncan wants the perch seats around the town swapped for proper benches.

At the October meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad (MDMK), Cllr Collentine was told that seating in the park was confined to well trafficked areas to discourage anti-social behaviour. No seats are planned for the perimeter fence beside the Brosna.

“Disappointed, very disappointed,” was his response. He said any town would be delighted to have a river running through its park and would capitalise on it. “The cost wouldn’t be enormous – the park is there, the river is there, all we need is a platform and a railing.”

Cllr Hazel Smyth said it was important to encourage such oasis of calm and peace in town. “I am disappointed that we cannot provide a bench for people to enjoy the River Brosna because of anti-social behaviour,” she said.

Cllr Emily Wallace suggested that Mullingar should be showing off “natural assets” such as the Brosna to encourage more people to visit the town park, and that would stop anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Denis Leonard said that the 99pc of people who would use such seating cannot be discommoded by the 1pc that would abuse it. “A park with a river running through it is like gold dust. We will have thousands here for the fleadh next year and we need to make sure they come back.

Cllr Duncan refused to accept anti-social behaviour as the rationale for not providing such facilities. He said that was a perfect place for seating and more appropriate than the perch seating plonked all over the town. Pat Keating, director of services, acknowledged that members were favoured the proposal, and that the matter would be referred to the district engineer.

Cllr Duncan asked that the 40 or more of angled benches on the flower and bedding stands in the town be adapted to standard benches. He was told that these “perch seats” are designed for a quick rest, as users simply lean against them.

The council could get “a lot more bang for your buck by turning them into benches”, suggested Cllr Duncan. He admitted he never heard of perch seating until it was introduced in Mullingar and now the town has about 40 of them and not enough ordinary seats. He suggested that the council try turning one or two of them into “useful seats” and see what the use of those is.

Cllr Emily Wallace agreed that the height and angle of the seats were not conducive to older people or those with mobility issues. She accepted that the perch seats look good, but they need to be adjusted.

Cllr Hazel Smyth said that with the Fleadh Cheoil coming to town next year, it is imperative that people have seats they can sit on.

Cllr Collentine claimed there was not enough “suitable” seating for older people. He suggested that the perch seats be changed or extra seats be put in “on the ground”.

The chairperson, Cllr Aoife Davitt, agreed that people are choosing traditional street benches over the new perches.

Mr Keating agreed that the perch seats are “certainly unusual and take a bit of getting used to”. He said they are designed to discourage loitering or anti-social behaviour and to provide somewhere for people to stop and chat for a few minutes. He agreed that it might be useful to look at adapting one or two of them and “see how it goes”.