Grammar School plans could put at risk much-loved community amenity
THERE will mixed views within the town at the decision taken by the decision of Louth County Council to recommend no change in zoning the land known as ‘ The Furry Glen’ next to Oriel Park.
The ‘Glen’ is owned by Dundalk Grammar School but is currently used for ‘community based activities’ which in effect means that walkers, runners, joggers, dog lovers and children have access to the 6 hectacres site for recreational purposes.
The Grammar School sought to have the land re-zoned under the draft council development plan from ‘community facilities’ to ‘residential’.
In other words the school wanted the land re-zoned so that they could sell it for development purposes, most likely housing, to fund their ambitious plans to develop a first class sporting hub on the Hill Street/Dublin Street side of their fine school.
The proposal makes complete sense from the school’s viewpoint, for great credit is due to the the school board for the manner in which they have developed their facility in the last twenty years, drawing pupils from many parts of the country as well as locally, and gaining widespread recognition for their academic achievements.
It is therefore perfectly understandable that they should seek to improve their facilities and appeal by providing high quality sporting facilities which rightly form part of any modern school curriculum with more and more emphasis being placed on physical and mental well being of students.
The facilities envisaged for development of the state of the art facility on the 4 hectacre site which would include a floodlit rugby pitch, and a athletics track would be a considerable asset to the town, for currently there are no dedicated athletics facilities available in town since the closure of the Athletic Grounds.
However, the addition of such excellent facilities for the school and the town had to be weighed up against the need for outdoor facilities to be provided, not just for those who want to engage in sports, but for the well being of the broader community.
It is a delicate balancing act, and one in which the council will have agonised over for the reality is that they do not own the ‘Furry Glen’ and the Grammar School who have generously allowed public use of the land since they acquired it from Oriel Park could, if they so wished, restrict use of the land.
That would be a real pity for it has been evident for some considerable time that the local authority and the school must work hand in hand to do the best they can for their pupils and the wider community.
The Grammar School has, as most know, been seriously restricted by the fact that it has had to operate on a site that has had limited land for expansion.
For that reason when the old Louth Infirmary was no longer needed by the council following the development of County Hall, it was rightly sold to the Grammar School to provide badly needed accommodation for pupils.
At the time there was some local opposition to the sale because of the historic and architectural value of the building and the view that it should be retained for public use such as a library or museum.
In the end the council made the right decision and sold the former hospital to the school who have enhanced their building, and the entire Crescent area, in the manner that they extensively renovated the former hospital, enhancing its stature.
That co-operation and shared interests between the school and the local authority which was evident in the past and which should be at the heart of all local planning must be maintained in finding a solution to the current situation.
The most obvious solution would be for the council to purchase the ‘Furry Glen’ from the school, thereby retaining the site for public recreational use, and providing the capital for the school to develop their sporting hub on the Dublin Road side of the school.
That of course places the emphasis on the council to find the necessary funds to purchase the land, and in these difficult times when the council’s resources have been badly hit by Covid it may not be possible for the council to come up with the money at present.
That should not deter the school and the council from working together to find a solution for they have shown in the past that by working together on a project they can both achieve their objectives.
Not so long ago Louth County Council sold land on the Inner Relief Road to Louth County Board for the development of a new GAA stadium at a cost of €400,000. Could that money not now be used to kick-start another project which would deliver modern sports facilities in the local community.