Go-ahead for Pearse Stadium floodlights set to go to appeal

Appeals are expected to be lodged with An Bord Pleanála within days, calling for a reversal of Galway City Council’s decision to grant permission for controversial floodlights at Pearse Stadium.

Planners have approved the application for three 30.5 metre high columns and two 36.5m high columns, each of which will have between 33 and 40 lighting fixtures.

But they imposed stringent conditions on the operation of the lights, and parking arrangements for matches and other events in the stadium.

A ‘middle mast’ on the Dr Mannix Road side must be demountable, and must be taken down by April 30 each year, and not erected again before October 1.

The lights can only be used for matches – a maximum of 12 evenings from October to March – unless specific consent is granted otherwise.

“The permission for the use of floodlights is for the facilitation of match-playing only and shall not be interpreted for the facilitation of other uses such as sports training, concerts or any recreational activity. The use of the lights is restricted to the hours of 6pm to 10pm,” the conditions read.

Planners have also imposed restrictions on the level of illumination permitted, and ordered that the use of the lights must be digitally logged “in a secure, accurate and independent manner”, and that the annual logs be verified by qualified personnel and submitted to the Council each year.

“The GAA shall make the logging record available for inspection by the public in the event of a dispute with residents within four weeks of the relevant match,” the Council added.

Traffic management proposals already submitted by the GAA – where they point out they have access to a total of almost 4,500 parking spaces across the city – have also been approved.

Nearly 100 objections were lodged with the Council – including petitions from local residents’ groups.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel