Meath County Council will be told this morning that a land rezoning deal with property developers represents the best chance of improving sports facilities for the existing community.
Rezoning proposals for six villages, including Stamullen, have been put forward for consideration by councillors. The proposals have attracted more than 100 submissions from the public and have been criticised by the council's planners and county manager Tom Dowling.
Criticism centres around the lack of sporting and commercial facilities.
Stamullen, with a population of 2,173, has few shops, sporting facilities and its water and sewerage facilities have suffered strain in recent years. However, Labour councillor Dominic Hannigan, who supports the Stamullen rezoning, said the plans would increase the population by a "modest" 30 per cent and, in a deal with the developers, provide much-needed facilities.
"The actual deal which we have reached with the developers will mean an increase in population of just 30 per cent. In return for this modest population increase, the developers have agreed to hand over 18 acres of land to the GAA," he said.
The developers would also provide 10 acres of a public riverside park and sports centre, he added.
The other villages for which rezoning proposals were made are Bettystown, Laytown, Donacarney, Mornington and Gormanston.
