Compensation wanted for Laois soccer pitch taken for Ukraine cabins
A Laois town's soccer pitch is being repurposed to take a new wave of tented accommodation for Ukrainian war refugees, and a local councillor wants the club to be compensated.
Stradbally Town AFC leases land from Electric Picnic estate owner Thomas Cosby and has invested thousands of euros to create a playing field described as “one of the best pitches in the county”.
It has been asked to move to another location on the Cosby estate, due to the new agreement recently signed between Mr Cosby and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The estate is currently hosting up to 750 Ukrainian people who fled conflict.
Most are women and children who stay there in tents for several weeks at a time until they are rehomed to longer term accommodation elsewhere.
The new contract is signed that increases the number of people who will stay, to950 between November and next June 2024. They will be offered “winter-ready” heated en0suite cabins inside large heated marquees offering facilities like hot meals and first aid, on lands near to the encampment of Electric Picnic tents, under contract by a company called Pastures New Ltd.
Local Independent Cllr Aisling Moran suggests that the club be compenstated towards the cost of a new pitch.
“The soccer club which is there since 1968 was told they are taking the pitch. Thomas Cosby is giving them another one which floods a lot.
“They had one of the best pitches in the county. It cost €12,000 to €15,000 to set it up. I know it's his land but to take something like that, with no prior notice... Should the council, or Thomas Cosby or Pastures New pay towards the cost to put in a new pitch?,” she asked.
Cllr Moran also questions if all volunteers and staff are Garda vetted who are in contact with the refugees.
“Someone will need to be held accountable if something happens,” she said.
She queries too that tents are still being used until cabins are in place in early November.
“It's freezing cold, wet and their clothing is damp. As a council we should stand up and say we are not allowing this in our area.
“People feel they can't speak out, because they feel they will be classed as racist,” Cllr Moran said.
She further asks why Irish people can't bypass planning permission to install temporary cabins or caravans on family land, because they cannot afford rent or qualify for a mortgage.
"I understand that under temporary protection the Government can do that, but how come it is not the same for young people who can't afford to buy homes or rent? You hear of court cases of people in mobile homes or cabins at their parents' houses and yet they can put 950 people in cabins no problem with no planning needed," Cllr Moran said.
She spoke at the October meeting of Laois County Council.
The Cathaoirleach Cllr Paschal McEvoy is from Stradbally.
“I spoke to the secretary and they are happy enough with the move,” he said.
The club announced the move in recent days.
“After many great memories and days in the Lawn in Stradbally we will be relocating to a new facility and pitch in the weeks ahead that will cater for our club going forward and continue to provide Football for our local community and surrounding areas.
“We would like to express our huge thanks as a committee to all the people from Stradbally and beyond who have contacted us with loads of messages of support and good will over the last few days and we hope you will continue to support us with our weekly Split the Pot Draw and other future fundraising events in order to continue to move our club forward in the coming years and support us along that journey,” the club committee said.
Director of Services for Planning Angela Moran addressed Cllr Moran's query on planning permission for mobile homes and cabins for Irish residents.
"There is a derogation there for the emergency situation we are dealing with in Ukraine. It is outside our gift to bring this in to deal with regular planning applications. If we are made aware of an unauthorised development, we have to deal with it," Ms Moran said.