A public meeting is to take place in Longford next week to discuss the possibility of the OPW putting modular housing for Ukrainian refugees at the former greyhound stadium.
The meeting comes after it emerged the authority has identified the site as a 'preferred option' for the housing after looking at 3 possible areas in the town.
The greyhound track was bought by the council in January of this year and elected members have stressed their wish throughout than the seven acre site be kept as a much needed recreational area in that part of the town.
Local Independent councillor Gerry Warnock has already established an online petition on the issue this week, and he says next Thursday night's public meeting in the Red Room in PVs Bar will be a further part of the campaign.
He says the OPW shouldn't think that they can take over the site and ignore what is being planned for the proper development of Longford town.
''If the OPW think that this site because it's literally a blank canvas, and it's to me, it's an easy and lazy option. If they think that this is going to be a quick fix, they're going have another thing coming. As I said phase two is the meeting phase to get a flavor of public opinion. Phase three then will be basically a more determined protest. And if that involves locking down the site or a protest of Longford people telling them look, this is not on, this is what's going to happen. So there's going to be no quick fix on that particular site.''
