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What the new velodrome building could look like but does it conflict with what students had envisaged (below)
Local students could be set to object to plans for a new international standard velodrome in Dundalk.
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What students had been promised for the JJB facility conflicts with proposals for the velodrome
The news that the velodrome was going to be built by Cuchulainn Cycling Club in conjunction with Dundalk IT at the JJB facility at Dundalk Retail Park received plenty of support this week.
For students of DkIT though, they remain very much divided on the matter.
Last year students voted to support the college’s takeover of JJB – something that will cost them an additional €125 per year on top of their fees to help subsidise its purchase.
However, there is a feeling amongst many students at the college that they were not consulted about the ambitious plans for the JJB facility and many feel their interests are not being best served by giving over so much of the building to what is, in reality, a minority sport.
According to one student, posting on the Dundalk IT Students’ Union Facebook page: “A lot of students are against this. This is not what was agreed.”
Others have suggested that the facility would be better utilised as an indoor athletics track.
Either way, the debate is raging and the students are likely to vote on the matter next week to make their feelings be known.
Indeed, DkIT Students’ Union president Brian Fitzpatrick has already released a statement on the matter.
He said: “Initial reaction from the college and from the north-east sporting community has been very positive as this an exciting proposal and something that is unique to the country let alone the region. However we feel it is essential that we gather feedback from the students of DkIT before this proposal goes any further.
“Starting from next year we will each have to pay an additional €125/year on top of our fees to pay for this facility, so let our opinion be heard before any major decisions are made.”
Fitzpatrick feels that the plans released this week by Cuchulainn Cycling Club conflict with what the students were promised when they voted on the purchase of JJB last year.
“This proposal will really kick-start the sport of track cycling in Ireland, however will it be of any benefit to us students? Is there a want or a need for track cycling among the DkIT students?
“As I’ve already mentioned this facility has been purchased by the students and is supposed to be for the students. While voting to purchase this last year we were promised free gym and swimming pool access, free parking and usage of 10 multi-purpose astro-turf pitches among other things. The velodrome will take up 80-90% of the astro-turf pitches and therefore impedes what we were promised.
“However there would be space for 2 pitches as well as some space in the centre of the velodrome itself.
“The Students’ Union has gathered initial feedback from some students in the last two days. It’s granted that students do not feel that there would be need for 10 astro-turf pitches, but there is a strong feeling that they wish to have an input in what would be placed there, and a track cycling velodrome was not mentioned among a lot of the excellent suggestions,” he said.
Fitzpatrick said he wanted to gather as much feedback as possible from students on the matter to “come up with an official student stance either in favour or against the velodrome proposal.”
He concluded: “The topic will be high on the agenda of Monday’s Class Rep Council Meeting, so we ask you to please let your opinion be known to your class rep. Myself and Paddy (O’Rourke) in the Students’ Union promise that your voice will be heard so please speak up.”
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The plans for the velodrome will take up “80-90%” of the part of the JJB building that previously housed 12 astro-turf pitches
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