Clara Town FC representatives pictured on parade during the St Patrick’s Day celebrations earlier this year.

Go-ahead for new pitch and walking track in Clara

One of the longest-established soccer clubs in Offaly has been given the green light to develop a full size all-weather astro turf pitch and a walking track.

Clara Town FC was given approval by Offaly County Council planners for the development of a 66 x 96 metre astro turf pitch and a 750 metre walking track at their premises in Lissanisky, on the outskirts of the town.

The club was also given approval for a a 1.2 metre high galvanised fence; LED floodlight system to both the walking track and the pitch, and all associated site works and drainage.

Among the tern conditions attached to the grant of planning permission is a stipulation that the operation of the floodlighting must not extend beyond 9.30pm, in the interest of traffic safety and in order to protect the amenity of the properties in the vicinity of Clara Town FC's facilities.

Council planners have also instructed the developers to take all appropriate measures to “avoid glare and light spill” to adjoining residential properties and onto the road network through the use of “diffusers, cowls, canopies and portective baffles” where appropriate.

Among those to make submissions on the planning application was local Fianna Fáil councillor Frank Moran, who asked Offaly County Council to “look favourably” on the bid by Clara Town FC to develop an astro turf pitch and walking track, which he said would “benefit the town of Clara and its environs”.

Clara Town FC was established in 1966, making it one of the oldest soccer clubs in Offaly. In what was a major coup for the club they purchased and developed their own club grounds at Lissanisky in 1999 and have been gradually improving their facilities since then.

A long-held ambition for the club has been the establishment of an all-weather astro turf pitch to facilitate winter training, so the go-ahead for this development, in tandem with a walking track, has been warmly welcomed by everyone associated with the club.