Council halts plans to lease Strathroy playing fields

A PLAN by two local sports clubs to take a lease out on the Strathroy playing fields in Omagh is to be terminated by Fermanagh and Omagh Council (FODC).

Omagh St Enda’s GAA and Strathroy Harps soccer club had made an expression of interest for taking over control of the pitches four years ago in 2020.

At that time, their joint-plan was accepted provided that they set up a separate legal entity to manage the proposal.

The pitches on the outskirts of Omagh are close to Healy Park, the grounds of St Enda’s, and, if the plan had gone ahead, would have helped cater for the large numbers of players participating in gaelic games and soccer in the town.

But a meeting of the council’s environmental services committee this week was told that no formal entity had been established during the intervening period. The council said that there had been protracted engagement with solicitors acting for both clubs in relation to the matter, and that, in March 2023, the council approved entering into a 25-year nominal rental lease with a new incorporated company representing St Enda’s and Strathroy Harps.

The director of environment and place, John News, said that the council approved the move to lease the ground, subject to approval from the Department for Communities Local Government and Housing Regulation Division. “However, no formal entity has been established and the council has not been in a position to progress the Expression of Interest,” Mr News said. “Therefore, it is recommended that the process be terminated and that the council continue to control and manage pitch provision at Strathroy.”

Mr News said that costs are not an issue in relation to the proposed agreement failing to go ahead. He added that the council maintaining its control over the pitches would ensure that they would continue to be available for wider use within the community.

Alliance councillor, Stephen Donnelly, said that the failure to reach agreement was ‘regrettable’.