Council slammed for not looking after new €2m sports park

The City Council has been criticised for failing to provide a ‘caretaker’ for the newly-opened €1.9 million Westside Sports Campus.

Local area councillor Mike Cubbard said the new playing pitches will be “destroyed” before the season begins in September because the local authority opened the complex, but failed to fence the pitches off.

And he said the fact that there were no bins or lighting when it opened a fortnight ago was “a joke”.

The campus – which includes a soccer and football pitch, as well as a running track, tennis and basketball courts and a children’s playground – opened a fortnight ago.

“We had a meeting with the Council last Friday week and said we needed staffing up there to keep an eye on the pitches. The Council said that it was up to the clubs and community to look after it, because of the staff embargo.

“People from Corrib Rangers have been running up and down to the pitches telling people to get off them, because they’re not ready yet. They shouldn’t have to.

“On Wednesday, a local school showed up to hold a sports day on the pitches – they’re wide open.

“We requested that fencing be put around the pitches to protect them until they’re playable, but were told there’d be a cost and safety issue.

“I assumed there would be bins up there, but was told by Tom Connell [Director of Services for Recreation and Amenity) that there weren’t any, that people were expected to bring their rubbish home with them. They have since put in four or five bins.

“I found out at a meeting last year that there was no lighting up there, but managed to have €15,000 allocated in the annual budget for it, and it should go in in the coming weeks. How could they have thought lighting and bins wouldn’t be needed?

“The clubs have no problem emptying the bins and the Council collect the rubbish once a week, but we need a Council staff member to take charge of it, because there will always be the 1% that will cause trouble there.

“The Council opened up a park that cost nearly €2m and is sending out the message that people can do what they like up there,” said Cllr Cubbard.