Following discussions at the Active and Healthy Communities committeeu2028 meeting on Monday 18 February ofxa0 Newry Mourne and Down District Council, the members u2028agreed to support Downpatrick FC going forward after their bid to the EUu2028 Social Investment Fund collapsed.
The Downpatrick FC proposal aimed to build a fit-for-purpose 3G pitch withu2028 associated lighting, car parking and changing facilities at the siteu2028 adjacent to Downpatrick Racecourse and the back of Racecourse Road inu2028 Downpatrick.u2028u2028u2028 Council Chief Executive Liam Hannaway received a letter from the Executiveu2028 Office which said: “The original cost of the project was £1,042 986 whichu2028 was to be funded via £492,986 from the Social Investment Fund (SIF)u2028 Community Operated Sports Facilities Project with the remainder beingu2028 provided by the Department for Communities,xa0Landfill Community Trust andu2028 Newry Mourne and Down District Council with a collective offer of £550,000.u2028However, groundwork and drainage issues identified at design stage haveu2028 caused significant cost increases resulting in the sum required to deliveru2028 the project rising to £3,080,894.“
The letter continued: “Given the u2028increased costs, the Department reappraised the business case for theu2028 project and was unable to establish that the proposed construction costs ofu2028approximately £3million were value for money.”
The project failed as it did not meet the necessary standards for value foru2028 money.
Speaking after the meeting, AHC director Michael Lipsett said u2028″The key issue was the need construct a concrete slab supported by piles to u2028carry the pitch, changing pavilion and floodlighting. This wasxa0 due tou2028 the discovery of very poor ground across the entire site resulting inu2028 considerable additional costs to construct the facility. After u2028consideration of several alternative design options and a re-assessment of u2028the costs, it was found to cost almost three times more than the originalu2028 estimate.
“The funder determined that the project no longer demonstratedu2028 value for money and was therefore not viableu2028u2028u2028”.
“Council officers and myself have spent almost five years working withu2028 Downpatrick FC officials, and it is a disappointing result for us all. But u2028all is not lost.u2028u2028u2028 We are happy to look at any options that the Club wishes to bring beforeu2028 the Council, and one possible option is to re-establish the club on their u2028former Downshire soccer pitch site.
“While the Council contribution hasu2028 effectively been lost due to the project not proceeding, should there be au2028 new viable project, the Council would consider diverting these funds.u2028 to a future development. Council has agreed to work with the club and if the land can be found, u2028then planning permission and a business case would be required.”
Councillor Gareth Sharvin who chairs the AHC committee said: “Myself andu2028 Councillor Terry Andrews have met with club representatives on Tuesday to discuss how we can move forward with this.u2028 It was very unfortunate that the project for a new pitch in Downpatricku2028 failed due to environmental reasons making it poor value for money.
“Downpatrick FC are an excellent club and provide a huge amount of sport u2028and recreation for young boys and girls and indeed young men and women in u2028this area. In a week there could easily be over 100 people participating in u2028soccer matches and not to mention the voluntary management, fund-raising u2028and training that underpins this activity of the club.
“Council has agreed to work with the club and I will certainly do all I canu2028 to ensure they have a proper football pitch and facilities as soon as isu2028 possible.”
