FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council has entered into an agreement in principle with Enniskillen Gaels to transfer a portion of the old Erne Hospital site to the club.

If successful the agreement will see the Council transfer between 0.1 and 0.2 Hectares of property for the development of a new 130 x 80 metre playing field at Brewster Park.

It has been acknowledged however that the property transfer could exceed 0.2 Hectares on a temporary basis during the construction phase.

And, agreeing in principle to the the club’s proposal, the Council has acknowledged that the disposal of this portion of land will have a “negative affect” on the future potential for disposing of the remainder of the site to one large development.

A letter of support for the proposal from Fermanagh GAA County Committee was forwarded to the Council.

In a report brought before the full council meeting last Thursday it was explained that a written undertaking from the Council would be used in any application by the club for funding and/or support for the project.

The written agreement was required before the club could proceed with any further expenditure on due diligence.

The Council report noted that there is a considerable difference in finished ground levels between the hospital site and the Brewster Park site which would require the construction of a substantial retaining structure.

“The construction process will undoubtedly require the temporary transfer of an additional portion of land (over and above that required for the structure itself) during the developmental phase,” says the report.

“The exact extent of land transfer will not become clear until the retaining structure is designed.” The report also stated that the Council would require Enniskillen Gaels to carry out full due diligence investigations prior to considering disposal.

“It will be important that Council is satisfied that the club is aware of the magnitude of the engineering related to reducing the levels of the acquired site to match that of Brewster Park and of returning the remaining supported site in a stable, safe and usable condition,” the report adds, “For that reason, Council will insist on full design details and engineering certification for the supporting structure to show that it will not compromise the remainder of the Council’s site.

“They will be required to show how the difference in height between the two levels will be made safe for users on the upper site by integrating health and safety measures in the design. This will help to ensure any detrimental affect the disposal has on the remainder of the site is minimised.” Members heard on Thursday night how the disposal of land would have a “substantial negative affect” on the future potential of the remainder of the site because of hose the portion “cuts a wedge shape out of the footprint of the existing site”.

“The new boundary conditions and the limitations this may have on the usable footprint of the remaining site reduces the attraction of the site to potential developers,” the report explains, “Land and Property Services will take this detrimental affect into consideration when calculating the valuation.” According to the document, Enniskillen Gaels had intimated their interest in the site a number of years ago in response to local community need.

“As the site falls within the Neighbourhood Renweal Catchment Area, the proposal would qualify from a community support perspective,” it adds.

During the meeting last week, Chief Execuitve Brendan Hegarty explained that there was the potential to dispose of the portion of land through a new system being introduced in Northern Ireland: community asset transfer.

He stressed however that this particular method “puts onus and obligations on the Council and more importantly on Enniskillen Gaels to provide a robust business plan that demonstrates the methods to deliver the project on a sustainable basis”.

The Chief Executive said the club was fully aware of the huge expense involved in the project.

He explained that Enniskillen Gaels’ preferred option had been to come out across the area where ambulance site currently is.

“That would have been a much cheaper and simpler project to deliver, but the problem with that is that that land was never given to the Council,” said Mr. Hegarty, “It was retained for the purposes of constructing a new ambulance site there.

“So they feel they have no option and their need is quite extreme. Brewster Park is also a county facility and it is also used for finals and women’s football as well.

“As a result the Brewster Park complex has no option but to go the more expensive route.

“This is the only viable option for them.”