'Unplayable' astroturf pitch in Portlaoise 'starting to tear off the ground'

An artificial grass playing field in Portlaoise is almost "unplayable" as it is disintegrating, a local councillor has claimed.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald is urging Laois County Council to ask its associated company, Laois Leisure Centre, to upgrade their astroturf pitch in Portlaoise beside the swimming pool.

She tabled a motion to the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District and described the poor condition.

"It shortly won't be fit for purpose. There is a huge demand on it. It is in dire need of repair, especially the playing area. The goals and nets are seriously dilapidated. People paying to use them are tying up the goal net with cable ties.

"The surface is starting to tear and lift off the ground. There has been flooding and matches had to be cancelled. This has been a great pitch, but it is urgent now that this is addressed before it's unplayable. The people who use it say they will soon have to abandon it because it will be unplayable.

"It will be a huge gap for people that run lots of clubs there," Cllr Fitzgerald warns.

She described the Director of Services Donal Brennan as "talking in riddles" in his answer to the motion.

He said "we will be liaising with the Board of Laois Leisure in terms of their long term sustainable capital investment requirements and the prioritisation of same".

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley had seconded the motion.

"These facilities are so utilised by the entire community. Could we get a list of the works for the whole area from the Director," she asked.

Cllr Barry Walsh said that he played soccer on the pitch recently.

"It is quite dangerous. I noticed the change, I'm playing there ten years, there's been a huge difference to the surface. Astro turf needs constant maintenance, filling and brushing. Schools use this too. Anyone who plays there knows it needs repair," he said.

The Director with responsility for Portlaoise is Simon Walton.

"I will speak to my colleagues," he said.