Tipperary GAA plans appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála

A planning permission granted to Fethard GAA Park, including the building of a two-storey clubhouse, the replacement of a spectator stand, and a new hurling wall has been appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

Permission for the development was granted by Tipperary County Council in late February, despite a number of appeals including claims of anti-social behaviour including drug-use, ‘egging’ of houses, and bangers and fireworks. Approval was granted nevertheless, but an appeal against this decision was lodged in late March by the Fethard Tennis Club and a private individual. 

A number of submissions were lodged against the original application with the council, including allegations of anti-social behaviour and citing concerns with the spectator stand blocking the light, traffic, and fears for the Medieval Town Wall with regards to the location of the proposed hurling wall, 11.5 metres away. 

The council acknowledged this concern regarding the historic wall, and recommended that a new location be considered although the development, “in principle, does not present a significant, new material or visual impact on the existing setting of the protected structure”.

An objection from over 30 residents of St Patrick’s Place claimed there were bangers and fireworks at the location late at night, fires being started, and drug-use. A number of other individuals alleged anti-social behaviour in a laneway on the grounds particularly over Christmas, and one resident claimed they had to ask young people to stay away, and suffered their house being ‘egged’. 

However, the council pointed out that any allegations of anti-social behaviour were a matter for  “the committee of GAA club and An Garda Siochana and is not a planning matter”. A condition attached to the permission granted dictated that the ball wall and gym should only operate from 9am to 10pm, in response to these concerns.

The Fethard Tennis Club also made a submission to the original planning application, saying that the courts were recently refurbished and that the ‘continuous use of the courts to access the stands would seriously impede the future development of the tennis club”. They requested that access to the stand from the courts should be closed.

A decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected by the end of July.