Call for ‘serious consideration’ to be given for all-weather pitch

AN All-weather pitch in Ballyfermot would mitigate against cancellations caused by bad weather and provide opportunities for kids to play throughout the year, according to Cllr Vincent Jackson (Ind).

Jackson believes there is space in Ballyfermot that is not zoned for housing that would be suitable for an all-weather pitch, noting the difficulties his own kids have had with pitch cancellations.

“I have two sons who play and twice since Christmas the pitches were unplayable. This is a feature of climate change, this weather is with us to stay,” said Jackson.

Although there are all-weather pitches at the Ballyfermot Leisure Centre Jackson says none of them are the appropriate size for “championship”-type matches.

“If we are to be providing opportunities to kids to play, I know we still have a lot of open space like in California Hills.”

At the recent South Central area committee meeting, Jackson called for “serious consideration” to be given to providing funding to develop a full-size all-weather football pitch in the Ballyfermot area.

Speaking at the meeting he said that due to change in weather patterns it’s no longer possible to depend on using public football pitches in the winter/spring months.

“The current facilities at the Ballyfermot Leisure Centre provide space for training only and are not sufficiently large to allow regulation games take place. Opportunities for funding are available from Lottery funding etc.”

Cllr Jackson also called for future big buildings to be in “municipal ownership” to allow all groups a chance to use the facilities equally.