By Ryan Sands
REDEVELOPMENT plans for Warrenpoint Town FC’s Milltown home have now been lodged. In recent weeks, the club sent a planning application for the works to council planners, and this follows on from the submission of a proposal of application notice—which are required to be submitted at least 12 weeks in advance of plans deemed to be major or regionally significant—earlier this year.
The proposed works at the Upper Dromore Road location include: the renovation and extension of the existing clubhouse; a new turnstile and fan zone area; a new covered standing area; a new playground area; a community area; the renovation of the main grass football pitch to 3G with new LED floodlighting; and associated site works.
A design and access statement says that the club’s current facilities are ‘unsuitable for the number of teams that use the facility and the people who attend the club on a weekly basis.’ “There are a large number of teams at the football club, which now includes ladies’ football,” it states. “The clubhouse only has two changing rooms, a small gym area, little storage, and an unsuitable arrangement for social facilities. The current playing surface is a traditional grass football field, which, during the autumn/winter months, is sometimes unplayable due to being waterlogged, caused by adverse weather conditions. The current setup at the football club is not suitable for current users, and the facilities are not suitable for the club’s development.”
The document highlights that the existing clubhouse’s front elevation will remain unchanged, whilst existing changing rooms will become female/youth changing areas, allowing for “separate safe changing facilities for boy and girl teams at the football club.” “The ground floor extension to the rear of the clubhouse will contain larger and more user-friendly changing areas to include shower areas,” it continues. “The changing facilities for match officials will be improved. The ground floor extension will also include a new gym to aid in the development of players. Currently, the shop and hot food bar are operated out of mobile units. A new shop and hot food bar will be included in the extension, providing more secure facilities. A new entrance to the clubhouse will be provided in the new extension.”
The first-floor extension will include a new kitchen area, a large function area, storage areas, and office and toilet facilities. “The new extension and renovation will provide facilities suitable for existing and future needs of the club,” the document adds.
Read the full explanation of the submission in the current issue of the Mourne Observer.
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