Full-size playing pitch included in new plans for former Clover Meats site
The revised masterplan for the Clover Meats site.
New revised masterplan drawings for the Clover Meats site contain a full-size playing pitch, following strong calls from the local community to have one incorporated.
In the past year, two public consultation meetings were held to determine the future usage of the long vacant Clover Meats site in Ferrybank.
During the second public consultation meeting, a draft masterplan for the site was presented.
During the meeting, the large crowd of local residents, schools, sports clubs and politicians strongly voiced their opposition to the exclusion of a full-sized playing pitch from the plans. Attendees said that sports facilities in Ferrybank are operating at capacity, and there is dire need for additional pitches to facilitate GAA and soccer.
It was explained at the meeting by JJ Digby, Landscape Architect with Digby Brady, that a full-sized adult multi-use playing pitch with runoff space, crowd fencing, goals, ball nets, dressing rooms and significantly increased car and coach parking, would in effect turn the site into a sports complex, straying from the original plan to develop "a community-centred and multifunctional park" at the site.
However, in a revised masterplan seen by the Waterford News & Star, significant redesigns and layout changes have been made to facilitate the inclusion of an adult-sized multi-use playing pitch.
To facilitate the inclusion of the pitch, original items contained in plans had to removed. These include the biodiversity pond, play area, multi-use games area, quiet corner, exercise equipment zone and outdoor performance structure (bandstand).
Still contained in the masterplan alongside the playing pitch is the dog park, ball wall, padel court, community building, Men's/Women's Shed and council storage yard.
It is expected that the Part 8 planning application will be advertised later this month.
