An Focal 26th January 2010 Tuesday
Official Paper of the University of Limerick Students’ Union
Volume XVIII, Issue 8 FREE
No light at the end of the tunnel for pitches By Aoife Ní Raghallaigh - Editor
The Students’ Union and Club representatives have expressed their dissatisfaction at the “Draft Development of Sports Pitches Brief”, which was presented in December 2009, after it emerged that no provision had been made for the installation of floodlights on UL’s already substandard pitches. The Brief was the result of a consultation performed by Richard Hayden, a Pitch Construction Specialist with Sports Turf Research Ireland (STRI), a specialist that the Students’ Union brought to the attention of the University at the outset of these discussions. The issues surrounding the pitches have been ongoing since October 2008 when a number of complaints were raised at a meeting of Clubs and Societies Council by both students and staff of the University. Upon hearing of these grievances from then ULSU President, Pa O’Brien, UL President, Don Barry, requested that a Playing Pitches Committee comprised of KCM, the Universities Project Managers, John O’Connor former Acting President & VPAR, the Sports Department, Buildings & Estates and the Students’ Union, would come together to discuss this issue. At each of these meetings ULSU representatives highlighted the inherent need for floodlighting on the pitches. ULSU also submitted a formal report on the pitches in May of last year which included data from individual club submissions all of whom use the playing pitches. In this report a number of the clubs stated their explicit need for flood lights. This report was answered by an interim report from the STRI in July which the Students’ Union found to be “extremely useful and comprehensive report in its finding and recommendations”. Following the receipt of this report, discussions stalled temporarily until ULSU requested the Committee to meet once again to rejuvenate discussions. The Playing Pitches Committee subsequently met in December of 2009 at which the “Draft Development of Sports Pitches Brief” was presented. On initial inspection of the brief
Students’ Union representatives were happy with report until it was noted that it simply focused on upgrading the surfaces of the playing pitches and contained no mention of floodlighting. It also states that the current inadequate floodlighting would be removed from all pitches following the construction of the All Weather Pitches on the North Campus leaving clubs with no option but to train during class time or off campus. Furthermore, it was stated at the December meeting that the North Campus All Weather Pitches would be entirely commercial with no allocation of time to student clubs. When the need for floodlighting was raised by ULSU President, Ruán Dillon McLoughlin, and Clubs&Socs Development Officer, Paul Lee, it was stated that the surfaces would need to be further upgraded to accommodate floodlighting which would increase the cost of the project significantly. In an email to the Playing Pitches Committee regarding the Brief, Mr Dillon McLoughlin highlighted the undeniable need for floodlights on the pitches: “When you consider that daylight hours currently are from 8.15am – 4.30pm...with a backdrop to an official class timetable of 9am to 6pm... the brief in its current form is not cognisant of this fact.” Without floodlit pitches UL students are extremely limited in their ability to train, particularly during highly competitive times. Despite his dissatisfaction with the brief Mr Dillon McLoughlin noted that the University have agreed to look at the problem of surfaces and are committed to finding a solution but “as of the meeting in December it has transpired that floodlights would not be included”. This has resulted in increased pressure on the Students’ Union from the affected students and clubs. Following further consultation with the affected clubs, Mr Dillon McLoughlin has contacted the Playing Pitches Committee to inform them that the Students’ Union cannot support the “Draft Development of Sports Pitches Brief” in its current form and are looking for the redrafting of the brief to include flood lights.
At least the substandard pitches are suitable for something
Commercial projects take precedence over student facilities By Aoife Ní Raghallaigh - Editor
REPORTS that the new All Weather Playing Pitches, which will be built on the North Campus, will be an entirely commercial project has left ULSU President, Ruán Dillon McLoughlin, “very shocked”. Building will commence on the All Weather Pitches in September 2010 and it was hoped that approximately 20% of the time would be allocated to student use. The plan for the All
Weather Pitches proposes building the largest group of synthetic playing pitches in Europe. This grouping will include full sized GAA and Rugby pitches as well as a number of soccer pitches. The project will also include the building of a North Campus Pavilion Bar. The project will cost €9 million to build and the University Arena is contributing almost 75% of the total funds. Story Continues on Page 5.