Birr 'foot golf' facility granted planning approval by council

A proposal to develop a 'foot golf' course at Crinkill in Birr was last week granted planning permission by Offaly County Council.

As the name implies, foot golf is a hybrid of soccer and golf, with players attempting to steer a ball into a cup or hole in the fewest kicks possible.

Last year an application for the development in Crinkill, on a 1.314 hectare site beside the N62 road, was submitted to the council on behalf of Lorraine Doyle.

The original application was for a "pitch and putt club/foot golf club" along with a clubhouse and storage shed.

However, in response to a further information request from the council, Ms Doyle decided to drop the pitch and putt element of the plan and amend it to "a foot golf development" only.

In its decision on Friday last, May 12, the council granted approval for the project, subject to 16 conditions.

The local authority had earlier sought details of the public lighting that would be installed at the foot golf course.

In response, the applicant said she would limit its hours of operation to between 8am and 4pm in order to avoid the need for public lighting, the cost of which, she said, would "render the development uneconomical".

However, the council has insisted that public lighting will be a requirement, pointing out that "sunrise during the months of December to February takes place after 8am."

One of the planning conditions it imposed is that, prior to commencing the development, the applicant must "submit, for written agreement with the planning authority, an appropriately designed energy-efficient LED lighting proposal for the entrance and car parking area."

Another condition attached to the planning approval states that the facility "shall be used solely as a foot golf development," and that "a pitch and putt club at the subject site is not permitted under this grant of planning permission".

The council stipulated that opening hours of the proposed facility should be between 8am and 8pm, from Monday to Sunday.

"No signage, name plate or advertising shall be erected without the prior written approval of the planning authority," it added.

The developer is also required to pay a development contribution to Offaly County Council of €4,662.

Foot golf is a relatively new pastime but courses where it can be played have been set up in a few parts of the country, including Galway, Shannon and Cork.