This article is from page 4 of the 2011-01-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
PLANS to introduce a new system of charges at the Lees Road sports and amenity facility outside Ennis are likely to be met with some opposition at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.
Charges already apply for teams using astro turf facilities, playing pitches, dressing rooms and the recently developed synthetic running track.
Under proposed new byelaws for use of the cross-country track as outlined last month by the council, clubs will be charged € 40 per hour, individuals will be charged € 2 per hour while a daily rate of € 200 will apply in the case of large events.
Local sports clubs have criticised these proposals, claiming they unfairly impose an extra charge on players and athletes who are already charged for use of facilities at Lees Road.
Ennis councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) is calling on the council not to change the “current non-charging for the use of the cross-country track for various reasons such as fairness, inability to police a charge, etc.”
In another motion submitted to today’s council meeting, Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) will also call for charges not to be imposed and urges the council to erect lighting in the environ.
However the council says the charges are being proposed in the interests of “fairness and consistency”.
According to figures contained in the council’s budget, the combined cost of operating park pitches and open spaces, along with service support costs, is estimated to total just over € 1.1 million in 2011.
In a statement last month, the council said, “investment in the provision, maintenance and management of the Lees Road facility has been very significant.
“Funding for the ongoing operation must be funded from local sources.”
The statement continued, “It is considered reasonable that those using the facility would contribute towards the costs arising.”
After years of intensive lobbying from local campaigners, the Ennis Sports Development Committee, Lees Road was officially opened in June 2005 by the then Minister for Sport John O’Donoghue.
Totalling a cost of € 4.9m, the project was funded through a loan of € 3.6 million and a Sports Capital Grant of € 1.6 million.
Clare County Council acquired the land on which the facility is now based, in the early ‘90s.
Proposals for the provision of five pitches were set out in 1994.