Boxing club fighting against closure proposals

Boxing club fighting against closure proposals

7 December 2016

A BOXING Club is hoping local politicians will block a bid by planners to close it down.

Crossgar-based East Down Amateur Boxing Club is seeking approval from the Planning Service to remain where it has been operating for the past six years — in a former poultry house on the Downpatrick Road.

But planners are recommending the application be refused meaning the amateur boxers would be left with nowhere to meet or train.

The planners’ refusal recommendation will be discussed at a meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee this morning.

Planners argue there are no overriding reasons why the club is essential in a rural location and that access from its base on to the main Downpatrick to Crossgar road prejudices road safety and significantly inconveniences traffic flow.

Club chairman, Sean Bell and councillors Billy Walker, Terry Andrews and Naomi Bailie disagree and argue the boxing club should not be left to fight for its future. Mr Bell said the cross-community club has produced a number of Irish and Ulster champions and draws its junior and senior members from across the district.

“We want to continue what we have been doing since the club was formed,” he said. “We were founded in Saintfield in 2006 and have been at our present base since 2010. There are a number of old poultry houses beside us which are being used for a variety of uses, but we are only here at night so there is little impact on the main road which runs alongside us.

“We provide an outlet for young people and are self-funded. The coaches get as much out of the club as the members do and we hope councillors will this morning overturn the planners’ recommendation. In all the time we have been here there has not been one single accident at the junction which provides access to and from our location.”

Mr Bell, who plans to attend this morning’s planning meeting which is being held in Newry, said the club has been buoyed by the support of local politicians and hopes it can remain at its present home.

He added: “Given the positive impact the club is having on our young members in particular and the fact that all our members come from across the district we hope to remain here. There are no other suitable venues anywhere in the area. We have invested a lot of time and money in the building, installing rings and equipment with no external funding. We finance the work ourselves and the site and space we have here is perfect.”

Councillor Walker hopes the refusal application will be overturned.

“There are a number of businesses operating from this particular site and I can’t get my head around concerns which have been expressed about access onto the main road which is a so-called protected route. This club is mainly used in the evening when the traffic is lighter,” he said. “The club has a great set-up and does fantastic work. It must allowed to stay as there are no other suitable premises.”

Councillor Andrews said the club must be allowed to remain at its base, highlighting its success in producing champions and instilling discipline and great camaraderie among young people in particular.

He added: “This club is one of the district’s sporting success stories. It harnesses young people’s energy in a positive way and I am very keen to see it remain at what has been home for six years.  The club has been a success and this must be allowed to continue. The service the club provides is invaluable.”

Councillor Bailie argued supporting the retrospective application would have a detrimental impact on the area and described the club as a “true beacon of cross-community work in the district.”

She added: “The club is providing a sense of community in a rural locality, bringing a thriving and energetic dynamic to the area. The club runs during the evening with only limited activity over certain weekends and is, in my opinion, unlikely to have any impact on the protected route. I hope the Planning Committee overturns the refusal recommendation.”