This article is from page 21 of the 2012-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
THERE have been calls for land at Drumcliff and Ballyalla to be setaside for the purposes of developing a sporting and recreational hub in Ennis.
Clare County Council has also been urged to ringfence any proceeds from the sale of 98 acres of land at Drumcliff for reinvestment in the same area. The council announced that it is to put land in the area up for auction.
The proposal has been put forward by three Ennis councillors, Tony Mulqueen (FG), Johnny Flynn (FG) and Pat Daly (FF).
Their proposal is due to be discussed at the June meeting of Clare County Council.
The motion states, “In light of the innovative use of this council’s resources such as land, development levies etc by Clare County Council to enable recent proposed sport facility development initiatives in association private and voluntary groups in Killaloe and at Doora; that a similar approach be adopted with regard council owned lands at Drumcliff and Ballyalla Lake. These lands and lake are in a central location with over 50 per cent of the Clare’s population living within a 30 minutes drive time and which enjoys nearby high quality access to the national motorway system.”
The statement continues, “That Clare County Council ringfence the proceeds from the upcoming sale of 98 acres of council land at Drumcliff for reinvestment in that same area and into the local economy by its utilisation to create a new public private community/voluntary ‘Drumcliff and Ballyalla Sports, Recreational and Environment Hub’ (including pitches, watersports, motorhome park, walks, cycling, biodiversity awareness, etc) which would be complimentary to existing facilities at Lees Road. Strategic use of the land sale proceeds in addition to other resources such as; other adjoining council lands, other sports/community organisation lands/funds, sports capital grants, Leader funding, etc could lead to such a development becoming a major tourist attraction resulting in increased utilisation of other existing facilities within short distance of hub.”
There have also been calls for Ennis Town Council to seek funding to improve facilities at Lees Road and Tim Smyth Park.
In a motion due to be discussed at today’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Cllr Johnny Flynn states, “The phenomenal growth in use by the public of the sports and recreation facilities at Tim Smythe Park and Lees Road indicates the social and medical benefits of such investments made by Ennis Town Council. The council should continue to add to such facilities by providing such as a MUGA (multi use games area) and improved lighting and surfaces in Tim Smythe Park; adult exercise equipment, general athletic equipment and mountain bike trails in Lees Road.”
Ennis Town Council had previously sought funding through the Sports Capital Grant programme to install new dressing rooms and MUGA. However the application was turned down by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.