Michael McDermott and Sean Lynch MLA stand at the Donagh MUGA that is currently under construction
A NEW acronym has cropped up in recent months, MUGAs, Multi-Use Games Areas which, where eligible, are provided by Fermanagh District Council.
Last week, work commenced on the MUGA at Donagh, a scheme worth just over £95,000 that is being undertaken by FAL Contracts, Enniskillen.
A spokesman for the council estimated that the MUGA will be operational in March/April of next year.
“Unfortunately, the time of year will have an impact on the polymeric surfacing but, apart from that, everything else will be in a state of completeness, the fencing, etc.”
The £136,700 MUGA at Belleek is about to commence, the council is awaiting planning approval for the £184,000 MUGA at Brookeborough and the play area at Lack, worth just over £122,000, is still in the planning system.
However, the council spokesman said he saw no problems with any of these. In fact, the contracts have been awarded in each case.
A report tabled at the June council meeting had identified 13 areas for consideration.
It was subsequently agreed to start work in Belleek, Brookeborough, Lack and Donagh.
Members were informed that all four areas had demonstrated strong evidence of need and community support to such an extent that sites which the council owned would be available.
Council officers were instructed to work with communities in Belnaleck, Cavanaleck, Kinawley and Tempo to agree suitable sites, and to work with communities in Maguiresbridge and Roslea to resolve issues in those two areas.
It was further agreed not to provide MUGAs in Clabby, Irvinestown or Tamlaght, but that Belnaleck, Cavanaleck, Tempo and Kinawley had shown strong evidence of need. Here, further consultation would be required towards agreeing suitable sites for MUGAs.
In addition to the Donagh scheme, FAL Contracts successfully tendered for the schemes at Belleek (£136,600) and Brookeborough (£184,200), and, Omagh firm, Fox Building and Civil Engineering were awarded the contract for the MUGA at Lack, valued at £122,100.
At this week’s monthly council meeting, members considered the situation with regard to sites at Kinawley and Roslea.
They were informed by Robert Gibson, the acting chief executive that, following talks with two local community groups, the council had been asked to consider a site for a MUGA on land currently leased by the Townhall.
The committee recommended that this site be further investigated, and that further searches for a site be carried out in Roslea where talks were had with the community, including the local GAA club.
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