Soccer club ordered to turn off floodlights after 10pm

A Kerry soccer club has to switch off floodlights at its grounds at 10pm each night, An Bord Pleanála has ruled.

Proposals by Listowel Celtic AFC to replace six existing floodlights with four floodlights were the subject of an objection by Johnny Joy, who lives close to the club’s grounds, 1km south-west of the town.

Mr Joy claimed the floodlights would seriously interfere with the privacy and amenity of his property and would also lead to noise and disturbance in late evening. Use of existing lights rarely ended at 10pm, he added.

Mr Joy also submitted the development would cause light pollution in a rural area and lead to additional traffic on a narrow country road.

Listowel Celtic AFC, however, said there would be “zero light spill” to surrounding buildings and houses.

Also, the lights would be fitted in a manner to ensure there would be no upward light that would cause glow.

Senior planning inspector Brendan Wyse concluded that light spill from the existing lights is greater than that which would come from the new lights.

He also maintained the new lights would have no significant impact on wildlife in the area and, in particular, on the nearby River Feale.

There is a special area of conservation about 400m from the grounds.

Mr Wyse, in making his recommendation that planning be granted, also felt there would be no significant increase in traffic that would affect safety.

An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission on the condition that the floodlights would not operate after 10.05pm.

Another condition is that the club must undertake comprehensive landscaping to its road frontage boundary.