Support for proposed municipal multi-sport pitch in north Mayo
Ballina Municipal District members of Mayo County Council have expressed their support for a proposed multi-sport astroturf pitch in Belleek.
The pitch would complement and further enhance the recreational value that Belleek already provides, said Peter Gill, parks superintendent, when the matter came before council members for consideration at the June monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District today.
The proposal is to construct the all-weather facility, with associated drainage, lighting, fencing and civil works, on an existing pitch that is currently under-utilised. Council members were asked to consider a report (in accordance with Section 179 of the Planning and Development Acts, 2000-2018 and Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2019) in respect of the development.
Mr. Gill, who described it as a good project in a good area, said it is targeted at people not in clubs but who want to be involved in sport.
He added that an application for sports capital funding has been made in respect of the first phase of the development. That would allow it to be opened to the public, with a second sports capital application to follow for the second phase, allowing for completion of the entire development.
Mr. Gill said it is anticipated that the facility would be open to the public and available to all but it could be locked in the event of vandalism or anti-social behaviour. The council, he continued, has good relations with all partners in the area so they could come up with some sort of booking structure if that were required.
Councillor Mark Duffy said that having played with Ballina Town FC growing up, he was always aware that the third pitch in Belleek was never fully utilised, so this would be a great benefit to the area, especially with no full-sized all-weather pitch in the wider region.
“We need as many as we can get because the demand is huge,” he added. “The facilities in Belleek are world class and this will be a great addition.”
Agreeing, Councillor John O'Hara said the proposed development is in one of the best locations in Ballina and developments such as this were needed to keep people in the area.
Councillor Seamus Weir, cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, said he supported the proposal but pointed out that his native Knockmore does not have a playground or astroturf pitch, and he would be looking for a recreational developments in the village too.
Councillors Annie May Reape and Michael Loftus backed the project as well, with the latter asking who would be responsible for the running of it.
The head of Ballina Municipal District, Declan Turnbull, said a lot of good work has gone into the proposal and he thanked Mr. Gill for his part in that.
“If we achieve what we set out to achieve it will be a marvellous facility for the municipal district,” he stated.
In response to Councillor Loftus' query, he explained that if the facility is widely used they may have to look at a management agreement for it but it was not something they normally did for such developments.