Closing the tennis courts at Monalee in Knocknacarra is not an attack on sport and recreational facilities, but a way of counteracting anti-social behaviour in the area.
This is the view of Labour councillor Niall McNelis who has welcomed the Galway City Council’s decision to close off the entrances to an open space known as the Tennis Courts at Monalee Heights and Monalee Manor.
“It is very sad to see an area that was originally supposed to be of benefit to an area turn into what has been hell for residents living beside it for the last number of years,” he said.
The council will erect galvanised gates at the entrances to the courts and the keys will be in the council’s control. Cllr McNelis also called on City Hall to liaise with the residents on the appearance of the gates so that they will be “in keeping with a residential area”.
Cllr McNelis added: “The fact that the courts are going to be closed off by gates means that in the future residents could again open it up or use this space for their own community benefit, this could be a possibility of allotments for the area.”
However City Hall decided not to close off the adjoining alleyways as it feared this would lead to dumping, as has been experienced in other areas of the city.
