The Executive Committee of the Combined Counties Football League would like to make this formal submission requesting re-zoning of 4.98 hectares listed in Folio No. WH5957 from its current zoning mixed status of residential (expired)/Industrial to be re-zoned as Sporting Recreational in order to develop and complete the CCFL Centre of Excellence as outlined below and as per attached plan.
Who will use this new Centre of Excellence:
All facets of the football family in the region along with members of the local community will have access to the proposed facility. CCFL representative teams and clubs from the league along with the local football team will be the primary beneficiaries of the new facility. CCFL representative teams and CCFL clubs encompass Under 17,18,19 players along with adult men and women’s teams. Local football team will be catering for schoolboy and schoolgirl teams at Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 14, Under 16, Under 17 age categories. In addition, the facility will contain a proposed community walkway complete with lighting (900 mitre distance) open for use for all members of the community.
What will the Centre of Excellence consist of:
Phase 1 (complete).
Purchase of site and completion of topographical study
Phase 2
Review current zoning and complete re-zoning application through Westmeath Co. Co.
Phase 3
Completion of Feasibility study.
Phase 4
Completion of planning application
Phase 5
Erect perimeter boundary around pitches and build walkway
Development of 3 pitches;
- Pitch 1 – Gravel rift pitch (105m x 69m) with pop up irrigation.
- Pitch 2 – Pipe and Silt drained pitch (105m x 69m).
- Pitch 3 – Pipe and Silt drained pitch (105m x 69m).
Install drainage infrastructure for entire site.
Install ducting, draw chambers and floodlight bases for pitches 1 & 2.
Acquisition of mower for ongoing and essential maintenance.
Building of equipment storage shed.
Phase 6
Erect floodlighting on pitch 1 (to a minimum of 300lux)
Building of complex including;
- Provision of 4 modern dressing rooms with shower facilities with additional dressing rooms for match officials (2).
- Meeting room.
- Storage room.
- First Aid room.
- Offices.
- Kitchen and catering area.
- Public toilets (Ladies, Gents & Disabled).
- Car parking areas (tarmacadam and marking).
Phase 7
Replace pitch 2 with FIFA approved all-weather pitch.
Erect floodlighting on pitch 2 to a minimum of 300lux (new all-weather pitch).
Costs and Funding:
The total cost of this entire project is estimated at €1.1 million. This excludes the purchase of the site which is currently in the ownership of CCFL Park Limited. Phases 1 to 5 are estimated at €250,000. Phase 6 is estimated to cost €400,000 and Phase 7, the final phase of the project planned for 2024 to cost €450,000. Funding for the project will be attained through existing and future league revenues, Sports Capital Regional funding, FAI grants, facility naming rights, local partnership arrangements for sharing of facility and future hire of the facility to all sporting bodies (local and national). The league also intends to complete various fund-raising activities to enhance capital expenditure requirements.
Why the Development:
The Combined Counties Football League was founded in 2005 encompassing clubs from across the Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.
Our Mission: Is to provide Football for all our Teams, in a manner which will improve, develop, and enhance the standards of our game, in the playing, administration and refereeing of football in line with L.F.A. and F.A.I. objectives
From the onset of the league it was always the ambition of the leagues Executive Committee, in conjunctions with its membership, to establish a centre of excellence and a home for the league. The development would allow for the staging of league representative games, the playing of various league cup finals and semi-finals, the preparation of CCFL representative squads, and through hiring of the facility the centre would present the league with an opportunity to raise revenue for the development and up-keep of the facility. The costs to date have been met by the league through prudent management of league finances accumulated from affiliations and sponsorship over many years.
The proposed sharing of the development with the community enhances the project. The league would propose through the sharing of the facility to maximise its use under a pitch sharing arrangement with the local football team while providing a fantastic amenity to the local community through the provision of the walkway.