Permission granted for the installation of floodlights at Salthill Knocknacarra’s GAA Prairie pitch
Salthill Knocknacarra GAA's Prairie Pitch. Photo: Michelle Geraghty
By Michelle Geraghty
Galway City Council granted planning permission for the installation of floodlights at Salthill Knocknacarra’s GAA (SKGAA) grounds on Dr Mannix Road.
The development consists of the erection of eight floodlights around the perimeter of the pitch, each 20 metres in height with four light fixtures on each column.
According to the SKGAA application, the floodlights will benefit adult members of the club, particularly in the darker months, with usage of the Prairie pitch divided equally among men’s and women’s football, hurling and camogie.
There were some submissions from residents on Dr Mannix Road, highlighting concerns in relation to visual impact of the development, unregulated road traffic and road safety.
One submission said the addition of the floodlights would “expand club activities into the evening” which would have a “clear impact on residential amenity” due to the increased use of the grounds.
Another claimed that the “net impact of the proposed floodlights could be an increase of potential users by circa 240,000 per annum”.
Objection to Tall Trees
A number of submissions raised concern in respect of the conifer trees adjacent to Dr Mannix Road.
“The main problem with these trees is exclusion of winter sunshine when the sun is low in the sky (which not only reduces heating our houses by direct sunshine but also significantly reduces the efficiency for solar panels for residents considering reducing their carbon footprint).”
In their submission, local residents requested that any planning permission grant addresses “the exclusion of winter sunshine from the Residents of 1-6 Dr Mannix Rd by these unacceptably tall trees”.
The decision, granted on 25 January, features a number of conditions, including that the floodlights will not be in use later than 10:15pm or “later than fifteen minutes after the use of the pitches has ceased”, whichever is the earlier, “unless agreed in writing with the Planning Section of Galway City Council”.
The Notification of Decision letter from Galway City Council did not include any reference to the removal or reduction of the conifer trees.
