All-weather pitches proposed for Belgard

THREE all-weather pitches have been proposed for Belgard Heights Community Centre as the Part 8 planning application was presented at a recent council meeting, reports Aimee Walsh.

The proposed plans for the three synthetic grass pitches on the area between the building and the Old Belgard Road were presented to the Tallaght Area Committee on Monday, November 22.

The detailed design plans also include a 5.4m high mesh fence with an additional 1.4m ball stop fence and four floodlighting columns to allow evening use of the pitches.

CCTV cameras are also proposed for monitoring by An Garda Síochána and South Dublin County Council to deter anti-social behaviour in the area.

The pitches have been planned since 2018 when Belgard Community Centre were awarded a grant of €150,000 under the Sports Capital Programme to go towards the development of a 4G all-weather facility on the grounds.

Despite the delays in the process, local Councillor Charlie O’Connor says that the plans were “welcomed” at the Area Committee Meeting: “I am certainly supporting it and other councillors indicated on Monday that they were also supporting it because it is a need that has been identified for some time,” he said.

“The people at Belgard Heights Community Centre have been pressing to have the matter progressed and there was notification from council management that they now intend to proceed with it. We are presuming now that that will now be published out for public consultation.”