Dear, dear dear!
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Ballymena Raceway.
News that Ballymena Council have to pay an engineer £10,000 to check out safety issues at Raceway has left Deputy Mayor, Alderman P.J. McAvoy 'fuming'!
And Councillor Monica Digney said she is "shocked" that this money has to be paid - even before knowing what the cost may be to bring the town track up to scratch.
It was at last week's Council Development and Leisure Services Committee meeting that news about Raceway now requiring a safety certificate came to light.
It was discussed in 'Additional Items Schedule' under the heading Ballymena Showgrounds - Safety Certificate.
Council's Assistant Director of Development, Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs. Bernie Candlish, told the meeting that in order for Raceway to acquire a safety certificate an engineer would have to be commissioned - at a cost of £10,000.
The Deputy Mayor declared - "I have heard it all. This Council is being asked to spend £10,000 for a survey. What are we playing at. I was half crazy before I heard this, but now I am totally crazy."
Money
Alderman McAvoy said after paying out the money it is possible that a recommendation to spend £20,000 or £30,000 could be made.
“Ballymena United could get a new team if they were handed out money like this," he fumed. "It is beyond me, I have heard it all."
Ballymena Raceway now require a Safety Certificate through the Safety of Sports Grounds Northern Ireland Order 2006.
The engineer would be required to give a detailed report on fencing around the Showgrounds track, the wall around the circuit, the track and the pits area.
For some time the Showgrounds - home of Carling Irish Premier League side Ballymena United - has been setting the trend, with the football club having to meet the demands of the safety certificate.
Now in 2010 Raceway is having to come onboard, with the Council, who own the Showgrounds, having to pay an engineer consultant to check out what, if anything, is required.
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