Council launches independent investigation into Kilbroney pitch upgrades

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) has had plans for GAA and soccer pitch designs for Kilbroney Park, including the location of a changing room pavilion since December 2020.

However, the council’s planning department has highlighted possible impacts on a popular tourist trail known as ‘The Fairy Glen’ as well as the “visually intrusive” impact of a pavilion design.

NMDDC’s audit committee discussed the matter behind closed doors this week during confidential session away from the media and the public.

Independent chair of the committee, Brona Slevin later announced in open session: “On the proposal of Cllr Devlin, seconded by Cllr Hanlon, it was agreed to instigate an independent investigation into the complaint raised around Kilbroney pitches as soon as possible.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that a grant in the region of £500k is due to be delivered to the Kilbroney project if successful, from the council’s multi-sports hub programme.

A planning department letter to the council raised its concerns on the plans.

It reads: “Concerns still remain on the nature and extent of the engineering operation required to deliver the enhanced playing pitches within this sensitive area.

“In particular it is considered that the detail included within the site layout and site sections drawings are insufficient to fully demonstrate the potential impact on the Fairy Glen Rostrevor River Walkway.”

The letter adds: “As advised, the Planning Department considers that the proposed revised location of the pavilion is unacceptable in planning terms if approved at this location, would be visually intrusive at this location and would have a detrimental impact on the recreational amenity value of this sensitive corridor, in particular the pedestrian walkway and river corridor.”

The letter further states that a new site for the pavilion, which has already been proposed, could potentially be rejected due to its location close to Rostrevor Stream and a risk of being in a “one in 100 year flood plain”.

A response is yet to be made by DfI Rivers and Shared Environmental Services on this aspect of the proposal.