Roche supports retention of Greystones land for sporting uses

Dick Roche TD, Minister for European Affairs, has added his support to the campaign being spearheaded by Greystones Rugby Club to retain the 1.5 acre site that has been within their use for the past decade and used by many local people as part of the clubs sporting facilities.

“The decision of Council management to proceed with a process to invite submissions for use of the site with the ultimate intention of selling it on for commercial purposes, raises questions over what the local area Councillors knew prior to the ‘For Sale’ sign being erected. The ultimate decision is sell off Council land and property rests with the elected members of Wicklow County Council, not Council officials. However that fact that a process has been commenced by management that will require final approval of the Councillors begs the question, had the area Councillors given their consent to the management to proceed and sell off recreational land in the town. Greystones Rugby Club has in effect been in possession of the land for over a decade and had made good use of it during this time. The club has not only expanded its membership in recent years but has also improved the facilities at Dr Hickey Park, providing more and better activities for young people in the town.

Any attempt to reduce the amount of space available to the club and diminish their level of activity should be resisted. It is important that the area Councillors state whether they had any prior knowledge of site being put up for sale and what their involvement has been to date. They also must state that in the event of Council management bringing a disposal notice before the Council is it the intention of each Councillor in the Greystones electoral area to support it?”