Edenderry Town FC playing facilities expansion approved

Edenderry Town Football Club has been granted planning permission for an expansion of its existing facilities at Paddy Maloney Park.

Offaly County Council rubber-stamped a planning bid lodged by the club for the proposed development, which entails pitch alterations to include the relocation of the main pitch and existing flood lighting and a new artificial grass surface has been proposed to replace the existing main pitch location.

The development, proposed for the playing facility at Father Paul Murphy Street, Derrycorus, Edenderry, includes the installation of new perimeter fencing, a gravel path surround and ball stops to the new main pitch location.

The construction of a new second pitch and training pitch with surrounding gravel paths and all associated site works and landscaping have also received approval from the local authority this week.

The local authority granted approval for the facilities works subject to nine conditions, one of which was that, when operational, "lighting levels and arrangements shall not cause excessive glare or

distraction to road users along the or adjoining property owners", with certain measures recommended by the council to avoid such an occurrence.

The local authority also stipulated that floodlights should not be operational after 10pm daily "in the interest of traffic safety".

At the time of the planning application in April, the club said there was a need to "reorganise and make better use of the existing playing space available at the club" so the club can "best meet the increased demand for pitches by the ever increasing number of underage teams".

Founded in 1926, the club, which fields teams at adult and underage level in the Leinster Senior League, the Midlands Schoolboys/girls League and the Kildare & District Football League, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.