Appeal lodged against €5 million Renville sports ground

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Galway daily news Knocknacarra social housing

Plans for a €5 million sports ground in Renville have been hit with multiple appeals to An Bord Pleanála.

The Renville Sports Project Committee, working on behalf of Oranmore Maree GAA Club, secured planning permission from the county council for the modern sports ground in July.

It is proposed that the new facility will have three natural playing pitches, a synthetic all-weather pitch, and a looped walkway connecting it to existing recreational facilities at Renville West.

There are also plans for a public playground to accompany the sports facilities.

The multi-million euro sports facility will be served by 248 car parking space, 8 coach spaces and provision for internal access roads.

Oranmore Maree GAA club has said that the existing local facilities are not sufficient for the clubs in the area.

Two separate appeals against the grant of planning permission have been lodged with the higher planning authority on behalf of a total of 17 local residents.

The main areas of concern raised by the appellants centre around the traffic which would be generated by the sports ground, a lack of information about environmental impact, and a damage to the residential amenity of the area due to noise and light pollution.

“The number of playing pitches and parking spaces points to an intensive enterprise that would attract county and regional level events and the use of the facility for competitions attracting cars and coach users from distant locations,” one of the appeals said.

“The local roads network (cul de sac) is not capable of absorbing the proposed use at peak times and will impact on locals travelling to and from their homes.”

One of the appeals has also requested that the planning authority hold an oral hearing on this development.

This case is due to be decided by An Bord Pleanála by December 2 of this year.