Locals voice strong opposition to 'masterplan' for former Clover Meats site in Waterford's Ferrybank suburb
Draft masterplan of the Clover Meats site.
Last May, the first of three public consultations was held regarding the future usage of the long vacant Clover Meats site in Ferrybank.
The large crowd of attendees at the meeting called for playing pitches, a sports complex, community hall, swimming pool and more to be considered.
Last week, the second consultation was held, where locals were introduced to the draft masterplan of the site, as presented by JJ Digby, Landscape Architect with Digby Brady.
Whilst many were content with the plans overall, there were serious concerns over the glaring exclusion of a full-size, all-weather GAA/soccer pitch, as Ferrybank remains in dire need of playing surfaces.
During last week's meeting, local residents, schools, sports clubs and politicians strongly voiced their opposition to the current set of plans advancing without the inclusion of a playing pitch.
Included in the draft masterplan is a community building, which could cater to arts and music events, meetings and could include a basic café facility to be used by park users.
Mr. Digby said that Kilkenny County Council are actively pursuing a separate dedicated community space in a more central location in Ferrybank, and hence a community building of scale in the park is not necessary.
“The idea with this building is that it would be a smaller multifunctional space,” he said.
Ferrybank Men’s Shed, whose facility is currently situated within the Clover Meats site, will be moved from its current location to a larger space further down the site.
Their new fenced-off compound will not contain a building, but will have container structures for use by both the Men’s Shed and Women’s Shed.
A ball wall and a MUGA (multi-use games area) is also proposed for the site. This space would facilitate five-a-side soccer, tennis and basketball.
A padel court is also included in the plans. The racquet sport is currently experiencing a massive surge in popularity, and it is considered one of the world’s fastest growing sports.
Pockets of unmown grass, which would have ecological benefit, feature throughout the site, as does a new pond.
An enclosed dog park area is planned, where walkers will be able to allow their dogs off leads.
The park's main green area is approximately 110 metres by 80 metres in size, and is flexible for a wide variety of uses, Mr. Digby said.
A bandstand structure is located at the top end of this green area.
Exercise zones are proposed along the park's walking routes, as is a quiet area away from the main zones of the park.
There is no full-size, all-weather, playing pitch included in the current masterplan.
The reasons for this, as outlined by Mr. Digby, relate to Kilkenny Council’s briefing for the project.
The brief received by Digby Brady from the Council was to “prepare a masterplan for the future development of a high-quality, community-centred and multifunctional local park”.
Mr. Digby said, “The park being multifunctional is the key thing. Nobody is denying the demand for a pitch, but the reason we presented this plan is because we think a full-size pitch would limit too much the other valid purposes that we’re trying to achieve in the plan.”
He added that the inclusion of a GAA pitch would effectively render the site as a sport complex and not a multifunctional local park.
He said a feasibility study was, however, completed to look at the implications of putting a full-size GAA pitch on the site.
“By the time you have a full-size GAA pitch, clubhouse, ball nets and additional parking to go with it, there’s very little space for the other community uses we’re trying to accommodate,” he said.
Whilst most were complimentary of the features included in the plans, the unanimous opinion in the room was that a full-size pitch needs to be added.
Cllr Jenny Catt Slattery, who serves on the board of management of Abbey Community College, said: “You’re leaving out a massive crowd of people from the area by not having a pitch. We are missing a huge opportunity here. It would be wrong of us to miss this chance for the locality.”
Local GAA club representatives also said that a full-sized municipal field is vital.
One GAA representative said, “This is a once in a generation opportunity for the community in Ferrybank. The plan hits a lot of markers but it feels like a lost opportunity, one which we can’t stand idly by.“
A representative from Ferrybank AFC added, “I think it’s a really good plan, it ticks most boxes. However, the school, soccer club and GAA clubs are all wondering why you can’t tick the final box.”
One particularly impassioned local resident said to Mr. Digby: “Your opposition to the largest organisations of soccer and hurling is shocking. You have been told that soccer and hurling were number one priority.
“The whole ethos and spirt of the Clover workers who handed over that land is that the pitches would remain.”
In response, Mr. Digby said, “It’s completely inaccurate to say we’re in opposition. We had a full design team meeting and we reviewed the impact of a full-sized GAA pitch on the site. The decision that was taken, not lightly, was not to include full-size GAA pitch.”
Cllr Fidelis Doherty further emphasised the locality's opposition to the plans.
“At the end of the day we as elected members will have to stand with the people, and they are not happy," she said.
"This has to be reconfigured. The call is for a GAA field, end of. You have fantastic ideas, it’s a beautiful plan, but it will not get through at county levels.”
Natasha Newsome Drennan TD added that the inclusion of a playing pitch would mitigate potential anti-social behaviour in the park.
“Anti-social behaviour is massive in Ferrybank, but if that pitch is used day and night, it takes away that risk of anti-social behaviour."
The concerns of the community were “loud and clear”, Mr. Digby said.
