Absence of athletics track raised
Plans for a new €13 million sports centre in Roscommon town were presented to members of Roscommon County Council at Monday’s monthly meeting.
Eamonn Seydak from S3 Solutions Consultancy detailed plans for the proposed multi-sport facility, which includes full-sized floodlit grass and 4G pitches, a fitness trail, tennis courts, and sports hall with multipurpose studios.
The preferred site for the new development, called the ‘iRos Centre’ is adjacent to the existing Roscommon Leisure Centre and will involve the enhancement of existing facilities.
S3 Solutions were commissioned by Roscommon Local Community Development Committee on behalf of the local authority to carry out the strategic plan for the development.
The completed facility is expected to cost in the region of €12.8 million to develop. Roscommon County Council has received Stream 1 funding under the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund of €136,000 to enable progress to detailed design, planning permission and preparation for tender documents.
At Monday’s meeting, however, a number of councillors voiced their concerns over the absence of an athletics track in the current plans.
Fianna Fáil councillor Orla Leyden said the new facility could be a satellite venue for Athlone IT and she couldn’t understand the justification for not developing a running track.
Mr. Seydak said the initial survey of clubs in Roscommon showed a preference for facilities for team sports but that the situation could be addressed further.
Independent councillor Nigel Dineen said it would be a “major loss” if the track wasn’t part of the plans and called for the issue to be dealt with at this early stage.
Meanwhile, Independent councillor Kathleen Shanagher expressed her surprise that the track could have been overlooked following a consultation process which involved local athletics clubs.
Fellow Independent Laurence Fallon proposed a review of the plan in the hope of adding an athletics track. This was seconded by Cllr. Leyden.
