A controversial plan for an all-weather soccer pitch in Deerpark in Mount Merrion, Co Dublin, was given the go-ahead by councillors in Dundrum last night.
Councillors at the Dundrum area committee meeting of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council voted to approve a works programme to include the pitch.
The all-weather flood-lit soccer pitch was the most contentious part of the council's plan for the 33-acre park. Other elements of the plan include upgrading a tennis court building and replanting woodland.
The pitch project was originally applied for by Mount Merrion Youth Football Club and was granted planning permission by the council. Merrion Residents' Association appealed the decision, saying the location was highly inappropriate for such a development. But An Bord Pleanála ruled in favour of it, against the advice of its inspector. The council then took over the project and applied for a grant from the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism to help fund it.
A motion to defer approval for the project was rejected by councillors last night by five votes to four and a motion to allow it go forward was accepted by the same number of councillors.
Local councillor Gerry Horkan said the decision to go ahead could be open to legal challenge because all council projects should go through the "Part 8" public consultation process.
"It is questionable that the council has taken over what was a private project in this way," he said.
Council officials did concede that the matter had not been handled well and councillors were told that in future any development in public parklands would be put through the Part 8 process.
Councillors also agreed the pitch would be subject to a management licence agreement.
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