Council progresses Cappagh Park floodlight plans

From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Galway City Council has drawn up plans for permanent floodlights at Cappagh Park, which could be in place by the end of August if given approval.

They will replace temporary lights which were removed last November following instructions from City Hall based on health and safety, insurance and environmental grounds.

This led to protests from Knocknacarra FC, which said that up to 900 would be left without somewhere to train during the winter months.

The Council has now drawn up a Part 8 planning application – a process under which a local authority puts plans on public display inviting submissions, after which a report will be presented to councillors by Chief Executive Brendan McGrath with a recommendation that the application be approved or rejected. Councillors will then vote on the application.

The plans involve eight lighting columns, each of which will be 15 metres high, around the all-weather pitch at Cappagh Park.

“It is proposed to install sports floodlighting to enable use of the pitch after dusk. This will facilitate greater use of the pitch by a variety of clubs and groups during the winter months. It is proposed that the all-weather pitch floodlighting shall be illuminated not later than thirty minutes after the use of the pitches has ceased and not later than 10.30pm, whichever is earlier, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Planning Section.

“The City Council’s online booking system will continue to be used to manage bookings for the all-weather pitch, which (as is currently the case), will facilitate access for any clubs or members of the public who want to use the facility. The operation of the floodlighting will be linked to the online booking system,” the application reads.
This is a preview only. To read the rest of this article, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here.

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