Revised social housing plans ‘won’t work’ say football club

Revised social housing plans ‘won’t work’ say football club

By Aideen O'Flaherty

PLANS for a social housing development on a pitch in Ballycullen Park that is used by a local football club “won’t work”, according to the chairman of Knocklyon United Football Club.

The scaled down plans, which will see the proposed social housing development being reduced from 42 houses to 32 houses, were presented at the monthly meeting of the Rathfarnham/Templeogue-Terenure Area Committee.

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An artist impression of the revised plans for social housing at Ballycullen Park

The plans were released in advance of reaching the Part 8 pubic consultation stage, where members of the public can then make submissions on the plans.

According to drawings of the development that were presented at the meeting, Knocklyon United will have five small pitches in Ballycullen Park if the plans go ahead.

The pitches in the park are currently used by over 500 children between the age of seven and 12 every weekend for club matches.

Donal Skelly, the chairman of Knocklyon United FC, told The Echo: “It won’t work. The site will be left without a full-size pitch – there’s got to be a better site.

“We have nothing against social housing, we want the children of the families who will move into those houses to join our club, but this isn’t the right location.

“We use that space for our young children.”

Citing the lengthy waiting list for St Colmcille’s Junior School, Mr Skelly said: “We need these facilities now more than ever.

“It’s a small amount of houses that’s going to cause so much upset to the local community.”

The football club held a meeting about the housing development, titled Save Our Club, last November where 800 people were in attendance.

Over 2,800 signatures have been collected on an online petition against the social housing development.

A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: “These plans will now be finalised with a view to proceeding to the Part 8 Consultation Process – in accordance with Planning & Development Regulations, 2001 (as amended) as soon as is practicable.”

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