Council to give GAA club free ground

Derry City Council has decided to give a plot of land worth around £250,000 to a local GAA club as part of a development plan to expand the club's facilities.

The Council Development Committee decided to ask for clearance from the DOE to hand the eight acres of land over to the Sean Dolans GAA club so that they can expand. The plan has been opposed by unionist councillors.

The club was offered the land situated in the Creggan some time ago but didn’t have the funding to develop it.

However, the Sports Council has offered funding of £225,000 to be used on development, on the condition that they can get the ground for free.

John Meehan, Director of Development at the council, said after a meeting there had been a "discussion in detail about the rationale which would underpin the request which would go to the Department asking them to approve the land transfer at less than market value, or in this case at nil cost. There had been broad understanding about the value of the project in terms of wider community, social regeneration."

He also added that it was designated under the area plan for recreational and community use and the council had no plans to change that and if it did draw up a scheme for its use it would have "significant revenue implications."

Club chairman Hugh Brady welcomed the decision, saying that the land was worth an "absolute fortune" to the club and the community.

But Gregory Campbell, DUP MP for East Londonderry said the council was not adopting the same approach to other sporting clubs.

"The west bank proceeds with a Gaelic club now, at a quarter of a million pounds, with no benefit to the ratepayers whatsoever and handed over for nothing - that is not on."

The minutes of the Development Committee meeting will go to the full council for approval before the end of the month.

(EF/SP)