Waterford councillors have clashed following controversy over the awarding of a license to the Waterford Viking Cricket Club.
Many clubs in Waterford had expressed interest in the former Roanmore GAA grounds which recently became home to the Cricket Club.
Cllr. Joe Kelly raised the issue at last night's Metropolitan District meeting of Waterford City and County Council.
He was critical of the process by which the license came about.
In a statement to WLR News, Cllr. Kelly said:
"I want to know the process followed by The Council Property Management Team to license the former Roanmore GAA grounds at Gracedieu to the Vikings Cricket Club, as reported last week. I wish the Vikings every success, so this is not about them per se it is about the process."
"Councillors from the Tramore / City West area were engaged in the early talks with CEO Michael Walsh about council taking over the former Roanmore grounds", he explained. "During these discussions, it was felt that the Waterford County Camogie team who do not have a ground of their own, might be a very good fit for using these grounds and other clubs might be interested too in such an option. Michael Walsh said that the seeking ‘expressions of interest process’ would be the best way to let everyone know about the availability of the land and dressing rooms when these became available, and then it could be decided who gets to use the grounds."
"This approach was to give all clubs a fair chance of getting access to vital grounds for their club", he continued. "Just before Christmas 2023, I heard from a friend that a group of people had been inspecting the grounds and dressing rooms in Gracedieu, so I asked Michael Quinn, Director of Services, did he know anything about who the group might be, and had a lease or licence been issued."
"Michael told me that didn’t know but he’d make enquiries. He came back to me subsequently having spoken to staff and said that no licence had been granted and that an expression of interest process would be the likely way to offer this facility."
Cllr. Kelly has been critical of what he describes as an 'opaque' process.
"Only last week I asked our CEO Michael Walsh did he know about the licence to the cricket club as reported in the papers and he said he didn’t know anything about it other than he heard the club were interested in the grounds."
"So given that the CEO and our Director of Services didn’t know anything about this, it’s vital that everyone, both councillors and the general public understands how a 1-year licence was issued to a club, without putting out a general call to other groups who may well have an interest in the facilities? Other clubs were effectively excluded from the possibility of using the grounds."
"This sounds very much like the farce that happened a few years ago with the issuing of a licence to the Deise Boat Club for land on the shore of the River Suir at Bilberry, which is a Special Area of Conservation, again without councillors’ knowing anything about it", said the angered councillor. "This sensitive ecological area was subsequently badly damaged. This practice of doing things effectively in secret must stop, and all councillors should be informed when consideration is being given to leasing or licencing public land to a club or individuals. That is the least that should happen."
"As it stands councillors don’t even have to approve a licence agreement or even be told about it and that is the problem. What I’m calling for today is that an open and transparent process be started within the council, for licencing or leasing these particular extensive grounds and any other grounds or property owned by Waterford City & County Council that may be suitable to be offered to groups/clubs, before any licence or lease is issued. This must be done urgently in the interests of openness, transparency and giving fair opportunity for every club / group to express an interest in a piece of land or a premises."
Cllr. Eamon Quinlan liaised with the Waterford Viking Cricket Club to help secure the grounds.
He says changes proposed to the process by Cllr. Kelly would create a nightmare scenario.
"I can only work with those who make themselves known to me", said Cllr. Quinlan. "This is how we treat every sporting club. What the councillor was calling for last night was that we should impose a new process - starting now - even though the contracts have already been signed between Waterford City & County Council and the Waterford Viking Cricket Club. This essentially would mean that every sporting club across Waterford City & County - many of which are on Council land and many of which are in Council buildings - if you were to bring in this process that Cllr. Kelly is calling for, it would mean that all clubs would essentially have to re-bid when their licenses and leases come up for renewal."
"That would be absolutely catastrophic for clubs and groups that have spent a fortune doing up buildings and building on lands across the years", claimed Cllr. Quinlan. "I get the feeling that the call is for this process to be changed only in this case and only for this group. To me, if you're doing that to the only sports club in Waterford City that at this moment in time is majority new Irish membership - that would be grossly discriminatory."
Cllr. Quinlan claimed that Cllr. Kelly was perhaps angered having himself made assurances to groups surrounding the potential use of the facilities.
"Cllr. Kelly spoke out against it and there was silence from the rest of the room, so I don't know if he's getting much traction or if perhaps Cllr. Kelly made promises to other individuals concerning that land. The simple fact of the matter is that I've got a community group that's mobilised and trying to play a sport that is very much underrepresented. From the feedback I'm getting in the Carrickpheirish and Gracedieu areas - investment in a community facility is badly wanted and much desired."
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