Loughrea sports groups will know by the end of October if their only realistic chance of securing playing pitches will be scuppered for at least the next six years.

Their bid to get zoning for a 45-acre parcel of land on the bypass changed to allow for a sports hub to be developed failed to win the support of the County Council CEO Liam Conneely, the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR), and the Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning Alan Dillon.

The Mayo Minister issued a draft direction to Galway County Council on the adopted Loughrea Local Area Plan until 2030, ordering them to revert the Caheronaun land to agricultural zoning from ‘Community Facilities’.

He cited reasons already proffered by the OPR and the county planners – that it was outside the town boundary and contrary to sustainable compact growth as it had no active travel connections.

There was then a fortnight for the public to make submissions before a final direction was issued – the ten Loughrea area councillors submitted their arguments in favour of changing the zoning with a further seven submissions also received by Galway County Council by September 12.

A further report is being prepared for the Minister, who will make his final determination by October 30. A recent invitation by Councillor Geraldine Donohue (IND) to meet with the area councillors was rejected by Deputy Dillon of Fine Gael.

Mike Feerick, chair of the Loughrea Sports and Community Development Group (LSCDG) told the Connacht Tribune that a proposal put forward by TDs Ciaran Cannon (FG) and Anne Rabbitte (FF) to seek agreement of the Minister for the rezoning to go through on the basis of securing an alternative entrance to the lands was not accepted by the Minister’s office.

Caption: Draft direction…Minister Alan Dillon.

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