Proposal of tennis facilities in Callan for Kilkenny County Council Facilities Proposal: • Two 78 ft x36 ft Tennis Courts on a flat tarmac surface with court lines. • A 3m high net on each court. Option for the net to be retractable/removable. • An 8 - 10ft tarmac buffer to the left and right of each court. • A 1 6 - 18ft buffer at the top and bottom of each court. • Metal cage with cage door surrounding the combined perimeter of the two courts. • Retractable netting separating the two courts. Rationale: 1. Population According to the Kilkenny County Council ‘Callan Local Area Plan 2019 - 2025’, t he projected population of Callan by 2025 is 2,750. For this population, the nearest free public tennis courts are located in: • Kilmoganny, Co. Kilkenny (Co - ordinates: [52.463334, - 7.327405]; Distance to Callan: 11.4km) • Drangan, Co. Tipperary (Co - ordinates: [52.517027, - 7.586591]; Distance to Callan: 15.9km) • St. Canice’s Hospital, Kilkenny City (Co - ordinates: [52.647460, - 7.232801]; Distance to Callan: 19.7km) Whilst these courts are free to use, they are too far for citizens to regularly travel to. As well as that, they are often occupied by residents of the local parishes. Some of the courts are in poor condition, with potholes in many areas of the co urts, cages and nets with holes in them and court lines barely visible. 2. Callan Handball & Racquetball Club The proposed location of the tennis courts is directly beside the Callan Handball & Racquetball C lub facilities. The building of the courts here wou ld allow the Handball & Racquetball C lub to offer their dressing rooms and facilities out to users of the tennis courts. This would create a unified sports complex in the heart of Callan, allowing sportspeople from a variety of sports meet and play together. Along with the proposed parking facilities on - site, this would be an ideal location for numerous sports facilities. 3. Residential Benefit In the s outh of the town of Callan , there are numerous sports facilities available to the housing estates. Jo hn Locke Park, the Fair Green and Happyland Playground are all situated in the south of the town, providing sports amenities to all residents living on the main streets and in housing estates such as Collins Park, Clonkil, Bolton Woods, Bolton Green, Edmun d Rice’s Park, Prologue and so on. However, the largest housing development in Callan right now is the Friary Walk housing development in the north of the town. Any sports facilities in the north of the town, other than the Handball & Racquetball Club, ar e property of primary and secondary schools. The development of tennis courts on this proposed site would provide the residents of Friary Walk, Collaire Court, Maxtown, Flaggy Lane and the Minnauns with some sports facilities within a short walking distanc e. This would be particularly advantageous for children in the n orth of the t own, as they will not have to walk up through Callan’s main streets to access free, open sporting facilities. 4. Schools The proposed site of the tennis courts is situated in betwee n two schools: Bunscoil McAuley Rice and the newly amalgamated Coláiste Abhainn Rí. The new facility would be a huge boost to both schools. It would allow the schools to diversify their PE curriculum from the usual ball games that they can provide on their campuses. Not a lot of children get to experience tennis facilities in school, despite the Primary School Physical Education Curriculum (NCCA, 1999) making direct reference to tennis, striking skills using a racquet and net - based games. The school’s use o f these tennis courts would also raise money for the Handball & Racquetball Club if the courts and dressing rooms were rented at an hourly rate. 5. Social and Economic Benefits The building of these tennis courts could bring huge benefits to town the town socially and economically. The effect of this can be seen in the town’s Handball & Racquetball Club. Since the establishment of its facilities, it has gained over 80 members. On ce built, the tennis courts provide the foundations for any potential tennis clubs and camps that could be set up within the town, providing a means for adults and children to engage with one another through exercise and community - based activities. Clubs a nd camps also attract visitors from neighbouring parishes which do not have these facilities. These visitors could bring economic benefits to businesses in the town. 6. Sporting Flexibility The facilities proposed provide far more than just tennis courts. The tennis court and net could be used for many other activities. The court and net lends itself to variations of tennis, such as football tennis . With retractable/removable court nets, the facility simpl y provides an open, flat space that could be rented out to any club or facility. This space could be used by other local sports clubs for small - number training sessions. A retractable netting that separates the two courts would also open up to provide a larger, flat, open space that has the potential to be used for numerous activities.