This article is from page 21 of the 2012-11-06 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 Ennis Town Council to drop a controversial charge for use of facilities at the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Complex.
Last February members of Ennis Town Council voted through byelaws which allowed for the introduction of a new € 40 charge to be levied on clubs for the use of facilities at Lees Road.
It followed a number of meetings where strong opposition was expressed to the charge. According to the council the charge is needed to cover the high costs of maintaining Lees Road.
The area charged for relates to a section of re-developed track that borders woodland at the rear of the facility’s synthetic running track and all weather soccer pitch.
The November meeting of Ennis Town Council heard calls for the charge to be dropped.
The meeting was attended by representatives of local athletics clubs.
In a motion, Cllr Paul O’Shea (Ind) proposed that the byelaws be amended “with regard to the charging of fees for the cross country track”.
Cllr O’Shea said the charges for a 600 metre section of cross-country track is unfair. He said clubs are being “victimized” as individuals and other groups are not being charged for the use of the same section of ground.
“This is a nonsense. That charge needs to be dropped,” he added.
Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said athletics groups are being “charged on the double” for the use of the synthetic track and the cross-country track.
She said athletic clubs had already paid € 2,000 to Lees Road in the past five months. Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) also called for the byelaws to be amended.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said, “It’s unfair, this particular byelaw, it should be amended.”
Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind), who is chairman of the Lees Road management committee, said the matter should be raised at the council’s budget meeting.
He added, “There has to be a reasonable charge for Lees Road. I would hate to see a situation where Lees Road has to close for two or three days because of a lack of finances.”
Cllr Neylon said the committee had never received a complaint from any of the clubs using Lees Road.
Yesterday’s discussion followed a recent meeting between sports clubs and some councillors in the Auburn Lodge Hotel.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said the council should proceed with a promised review of byelaws and also hear from Lees Road general manager Tim Forde.
Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) said he agreed with Cllr Meaney’s suggestion that the byelaws be reviewed.
Town Clerk Leonard Cleary acknowledged the effort of voluntary organisations.
He said it was not “procedurally possible” for the council to change the byelaws immediately. Mr Cleary added, “The Lees Road facility is a significant cost to the council…there are significant ongoing maintenance costs there.”
The matter is to be discussed at the next meeting of the Lees Road management committee.