Hurling club plan under spotlight

A CORK hurling club which produced some of the game’s brightest stars has been told that its floodlighting system for a proposed new complex is too bright.

Blackrock Hurling and Football Club applied for planning permission in May for the installation of floodlighting on its second pitch on Church Road.

The six, 22-metre, masts will each have an average lighting level of 400 lux.

Industry experts suggest that the maximum lux for floodlights for national and international rugby and football games should be 500 lux.

The club also wants to build an all-weather facility, three hurling alleys and a synthetic all-weather pitch floodlit by two, 16-metre, floodlights producing an average level of 250 lux.

But planners expressed concerns about the impact the lights would have on nearby houses.

The planning department said it had no objection in principal to the overall development but said it felt the floodlighting levels at the edges of the pitches was higher than recommended.

Planners sought a light study and details on the light spill into neighbouring areas.

The club’s planning consultants responded in detail and said the proposed lux levels are within the recommended standards for towns and cities and will “not have a negative impact on the surrounding properties”.

The response also outlined how the floodlighting system will include switching equipment to allow a three-phase usage — to have the lights working at 30%, 60% and 100% power — depending on whether training or matches.

The club is also willing to comply with any hours of operation that may be imposed by the planning authority, it said.

A planing decision is expected towards the end of this month.