A County Armagh GAA club is planning for the future with a development to enhance its own facilities and provide opportunities for the public too.
Madden Raparees is aiming to put in place a full size football training pitch, complete with floodlights, catch netting and dugouts.
The ambitious scheme also includes a perimeter walking trail, as well as car parking, landscaping and associated site works.
The project falls within the ‘major’ category of development and, as such, a pre-application notice has been submitted to – and accepted by – Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
This will see a public consultation event taking place next month in Armagh when more details of what is envisaged is revealed.
A dedicated website has also been prepared to highlight the major changes on the cards around the club’s Raparee Park ground.
The exact location of the development site is on “lands adjoining and immediately west and south-west of Raparee Park, 86 Monaghan Road, Middletown, Armagh, and 55m north-west of 9 Goland Road, adjacent to and north-west of 15 Goland Road, Armagh,and north of and adjacent to 17 Goland Road, Armagh”.
The club’s ‘Field Development initiative’ is described as “a community-first project dedicated to upgrading our grounds with new championship playing surfaces, floodlights, and a public walking trail”.
According to the website highlighting what it is hoped to deliver, the vision is for a “sustainable sports facility designed for long-term athletic growth, player safety and recreational utility”, with Madden Raparees GAC “committed to executing each phase to professional standards”.
The proposed development would see a “high-spec championship playing pitch and training pitch”, together with a “modern, energy-efficient LED floodlighting system”.
This would extend training hours during winter and improve facilities for club members and the wider community alike.
A perimeter community walking trail would be integrated into plans “to enhance health and wellbeing”. It would “connect the sports fields to Raparee Park, welcoming all local residents”.
Neighbouring properties within 500 metres of the site are being informed via leaflets of forthcoming proposals.
And the public information drop-in consultation is now due to take place at CPS Property’s offices on Upper English Street, Armagh, on Tuesday, August 4, from 2.30pm until 8.30pm. Local political representatives have also been advised of plans.
All views expressed at the information event and directly via the website will be taken on board before an application seeking full approval to proceed is lodged.
