BALLYMUN Pigeon Flying Club is being forced to operate from a vandalised and rat-infested flat without running water or electricity after being told it couldn’t move into its new premises.
The club, which has over 60 members, some of whom are young and disabled, was due to be relocated to a unit in Ballymun Shopping Centre last Wednesday but at the last minute was told that the move had to be cancelled.
The blow came the day before the busy racing season got underway for the pigeon fanciers who have spent months and a lot of money preparing their birds to race.
After being told of the devastating news that their new premises wasn’t available, the club had to return to its home in a dilapidated flat on Shangan Road, which they claim poses a major risk to their health and safety.
“The council were due to give us the keys for a unit in the old shopping centre last Wednesday but we were told almost on the day that we weren’t allowed to use the unit because of some planning issues,
? said pigeon club secretary Lee Newman.
“I wouldn’t mind but the council had prepared and painted the unit for us and we’d been promised alternative accommodation for over a year now.
“We had no other choice but to go back to the flat on Shangan Road which was flooded and rat-infested at that stage.
“We were due to start racing the next day and we couldn’t afford to miss any races.
“All other flats in the block have long been de-tenanted so people are breaking in and stripping the flats of pipes to sell as scrap steal. As a result the flat is without heating or running water. contd from page 1
“It’s vital that club members have somewhere to bring their pigeons for pre-race preparations and packing them into sealed crates for competition.
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The Ballymun Pigeon Flying Club has been trying desperately to keep the sport of pigeon racing alive in the area.
The club hopes to encourage a younger generation to get involved in the sport, which once attracted hundreds of enthusiasts in the Ballymun and Finglas area.
According to Mr Newman, the club hasn’t been treated with the same respect afforded to all other sporting clubs in the area.
“We’re not asking for much,
? he told Northside People.
“All we want is somewhere safe, dry and with electricity.
“We have one disabled member and most other members, including myself, bring our kids along to the club so at any one time there could be people in the clubhouse ranging in age from 70 to two years of age.
“You can’t expect or you certainly couldn’t allow children to come to a flat that poses such serious health and safety risks.
“All other clubs in the locality such as men’s clubs, youth clubs and sports clubs, have been given somewhere safe to operate from.
“How are we supposed to encourage people into the sport of pigeon racing when our clubhouse is so neglected and rundown?
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A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said it has endeavoured to find accommodation for groups as the flat blocks are de-tenanted and had intended to move the pigeon club into a vacant unit in Ballymun Shopping centre as an interim measure until more suitable accommodation could be found.
“However planning issues arose in relation to the use of the unit in the shopping centre, as the proposed use would be in contravention of the permitted uses under its zoning,
? she told Northside People.
“Dublin City Council is currently endeavouring to find alternative accommodation for the club and is in regular contact with their committee in relation to this.
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