By Cianna McNally

Members of Monaghan County Council this week unanimously agreed to grant ‘Part VIII’ planning permission for a massive new sports complex in Clones at a cost of €8.5 million.

The facility at Liseggerton is being developed by Clones Erne East Sports Partnership. It will include an eight-lane athletic track, a 3G all-weather multipurpose pitch, the relocation of the existing GAA pitch and floodlighting at all pitches and tracks. During a presentation on the complex, Director of Services Adge King said that the emphasis was on community involvement and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) had allocated funding for this reason. Mr King also said that if the project got the green light the tender process could begin and work on the facility could begin at the end of the year. “Construction will continue until February 2012 and we hope that the complex will be fully operational and officially opened by September 2012.

Welcoming the presentation, Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus Coyle described it as “a good news day” for the county and for Clones and acknowledged the “huge” voluntary effort that had gone into bringing the project to fruition. Cllr Coyle commented that the work needed on the complex could also provide a timely boost for the construction industry. “This will be a magnificent facility and will put Clones on the map.” Sinn Féin’s Pat Treanor concurred with Cllr Coyle’s sentiments and said the facility would be a very important asset for both Clones and the county.

Cllr Robbie Gallagher commended all involved with the project and asked whether it would be possible to break up the contract so local contractors could submit tenders for the various aspects of the work. Council official Kevin McNally who was involved in giving the presentation to Monaghan County Council said there was an intention to include a social clause in the tender documents. They could not make a contractor employ local people but it was hoped there would be an element of goodwill, like what had been the case in similar situations in Northern Ireland. Mr McNally also said that they had been advised not to divide work and to allocate the project to one contractor.

Cllr Hugh McElvaney stated that he was “proud and delighted” that the sports complex had been given the green light as it was much needed in that particular part of the county. Similarly, Cllrs Paudge Connolly and Pádraig McNally welcomed the development as did Mayor Jackie Crowe.