Barna sports clubs lose out

The failure of councillors to ring-fence a financial contribution from developers to pay for amenities in the Barna local area draft plan is a major let down for sports clubs who will lose one third of their facilities to the bypass.That is the view of the Barna Co-op, an alignment of sporting groups including the GAA, soccer and tennis clubs, which had proposed an amenity contribution of €10 per square foot of development by builders, excluding once-off houses.In a development of 58 homes of 1,200 sq.ft., that would result in a windfall of €1m for the community. Pobal Bhearna, representing residents, wanted to have a €100,000 amenity contribution per acre of development involving units of four or more, a clause that is currently in the Oranmore draft plan.Galway County Council planners proposed an…..