A motion from Mayor Mike Cubbard to erect waist high fencing to protect playing pitches was passed at an online meeting of the Galway City Council on Monday.
Mayor Cubbard spoke about the need for perimeter fencing to protect pitches from being damaged on a regular basis while still allowing full access for everyone.
"Following a discussion around fencing to protect a number of public playing pitches citywide at a Recreation & Amenity SPC meeting in 2020, no further update has come before Galway City Council," Mayor Cubbard's motion stated.
"A number of playing pitches are in urgent need of fencing to be erected in order to protect them from large animals, dog faeces continuously left where young children train and damage caused due to scrambler bikes.
'Protection'
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"Therefore, I am requesting that said SPC make such policy a priority and revert back to full council after their next meeting with a view to introducing a policy to allow for fencing which will continue to give access to all in the community but offer protection from the above."
Local clubs contacted Mayor Cubbard about issues that were being encountered. He said: "I submit this motion following a number of representations from various sports clubs across Galway. In recent weeks I queried the city council's policy around low size fencing and was advised there was none in place.
"Further to that, I do not accept the executives solution that more signage is required. We already have signage, but the problem remains," he added. "My proposal is that we look to erect waist high fencing to protect our facilities but allow full access for pedestrians, etc, so that all in the community continue to enjoy our amenities."
