KILLALOE-Ballina Tennis Club have been granted planning permission for several refurbishments to their clubhouse
The club, which is situated on the Clare side of the River Shannon, first applied for the development on the 7th of April this year.
Established in 1984, the club is affiliated with the Munster Tennis branch of Tennis Ireland and currently has facilities including two artificial grass courts, two artificial clay courts, and two covered hard courts.
The development is due to consist of an “extension and refurbishment to the existing clubhouse to include an extension, covered outdoor area, minor amendments to boundary wall and gates, refurbishment of the existing clubhouse and all ancillary site works”.
During the planning process, a letter was submitted by Club Chairman Patrick Seymour asking that the club be exempt from planning fees, writing “I hereby seek an exemption of fees under the above article of the regulations for the reasons outlined below”.
“The planning application consists of development designed or intended to be used for recreational purposes by the inhabitants of a locality and is not to be used mainly for profit or gain”, the chairman continued.
Under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, developments “designed or intended to be used for social, recreational, educational or religious purposes by the inhabitants of a locality”, can make themselves exempt from planning fees during the application process.
In terms of environmental impact, a planning report found that there was “no real likelihood of significant effects on the environment arising from the proposed development.
The need for environmental impact assessment can, therefore, be excluded at preliminary examination and a screening determination is not required”.
The proposed development is due to encroach onto lands currently owned by Clare County Council. While this can often be a stumbling block in the planning process, Carmel Greene, Senior Executive Officer for Land Activation, Derelict Sites and Property, submitted a letter that stated the council had no issue with the development.
“On behalf of Clare County Council, I hereby consent to the inclusion of the said lands in a planning application for the above development and you may submit this letter as evidence of having sufficient legal interest for planning purposes”, Greene wrote.
The successful application is part of a broader trend in the county in the past few weeks that saw planning finally granted to Shannon Athletic Club, while Inagh-Kilnamona and Sixmilebridge GAA clubs both recently lodged plans for developments at their secondary pitches.
Work on the development can now begin following the council’s decision to grant permission.
