THERE IS likely to have been mixed local reaction to Ben Dunne’s decision to withdraw his planning application to build a two-storey gym and six all-weather soccer pitches on the site of the former Presentation Brothers playing fields at Glasthule, Co Dublin.

It seems that some locals, particularly those living in Spencer Villas, weren’t keen on a big shed-like gym being built beside them while others thought it would be good for the community and would be better than leaving it as an empty field but had concerns about floodlighting, noise and traffic.

Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council received 25 submissions in relation to the planning application and it is believed that Dunne (below) told one local that, if there was too much opposition locally, he might withdraw his application altogether. He said he was not going to start on a project that has so many issues with the local residents.

The more cynical amongst us wonder if the current economic climate might have had anything to do with his decision at all?

Back in November 2008 Dunne said he exchanged contracts with the Presentation Brothers on the 4.3-acre former playing fields on Hudson Road, and paid “more than the asking price” of €5 million”.

He currently has three centres in Dublin: Westpoint in Blanchardstown; Carlisle in Terenure; and Northwood in Santry.

The Presentation Brothers were believed to be selling the land to fund the upkeep of their remaining schools here and in Africa, and for the care of elderly members of the order.

In March 2008 the High Court overturned a decision by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council aimed at preserving the lands as playing fields.

The order challenged a decision of the council’s elected members to approve a variation in its development plan to preserve the site as playing fields. The judge noted Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council had conceded its decision on the lands was unlawful and the brothers only learned of it by chance from a leaflet distributed by a local councillor.