Councillor's motion on Kilbroney playing pitches upgrade expresses frustration at delay

Crotlieve Councillor Jarlath Tinnelly is bringing forward a motion to try and progress the proposed Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor playing pitches upgrade at the first full Council meeting of the year on Monday night.

A planning application for was made for the development of replacement soccer and GAA pitches, changing pavilion, fencing, ball catch nets and pathways in April 2021 but it is still incomplete with the latest document uploaded to the planning portal, a letter from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Planning Department which states that there are "concerns in relation to the impact of certain aspects of the proposal on this environmentally sensitive area."

Concerns stated include "the detail included within the site layout and site sections drawings are insufficient to fully demonstrate the potential impact on the Fairy Glen Rostrevor River Walkway. The existing and proposed site sections should be drawn to include the entire site including the river/pedestrian walkway."

Regarding the changing pavilion Council believe there should be a "revised location should be considered for the pavilion (preferably towards the carpark area of the site, beyond the existing tennis courts), or, as an alternative, consideration given to the use of existing buildings within the Park."

Councillor Tinnelly's motion speaks of the frustration of the Crotlieve football and sporting fraternity at the length of time the application is taking and he asks Council to instruct Project Managers to withdraw the pavilion element and immediately provide the Planning Department with any outstanding information needed.

Finally the motion requests that an alternative site is found for the pavilion and a seperate application is made within three months.

Notice of Motion - Kilbroney Park Playing Pitches from Councillor Jarlath Tinnelly

''This Council shares the frustration and disappointment of the wider Crotlieve football & sporting fraternity, that almost three years after a planning application was submitted to upgrade the existing playing pitches @ Kilbroney Park, information remains outstanding that would allow the planning department to complete their deliberations and bring forward a recommendation.''

''Council remains very concerned at the unacceptable delay and inertia that has enveloped this process throughout 2023 and the inability of the project managers to progress the application to the stage where the planning department can conclude their work.''

''Council notes the latest correspondence on the planning portal dated December 7th 2023, between the planning department and the project managers and agrees that an intervention from elected members is both appropriate and necessary to help break the logjam.''

''Council now instructs the project managers to withdraw the pavillion/changing room element from this current application and to immediately provide the remaining outstanding information as requested by the planning department so a recommendation regarding the upgrading the pitches themselves can be made without further delay.''

''Furthermore, project managers will immediately seek to identify an alternative site for the pavillion and will submit a separate planning application for a pavillion within three months of this meeting.''

''Project managers will also provide a monthly update to council regarding the other outstanding matters as requested by the planning department.''