UCD track to close!!

YFlyer

Timmaay wrote: »

UL has a tempery indoor track as well.

Where?

That run around on the 1st floor in the Arena?

Brianderunner

YFlyer wrote: »

Where?

That run around on the 1st floor in the Arena?

The 225m (i think) rectangular one up above, also the 60m sprint track beside the basketball courts too.

Cartman78

YFlyer wrote: »

Where?

That run around on the 1st floor in the Arena?

That track is mainly used for classes these days; sometimes use it for warm-ups but you'd need hips of steel to do any sort of distance on it...it's only 225m long so that's a lot of turns.

re: the outside track @ UL - would be severly p1ssed off if that was to be dug up so can well appreciate the anger on here from people about UCD.

YFlyer

Cartman78 wrote: »

That track is mainly used for classes these days; sometimes use it for warm-ups but you'd need hips of steel to do any sort of distance on it...it's only 225m long so that's a lot of turns.

Yeah I can't understand why people run around that indoor track when it is fine outside.

Pisco Sour

Completely forgot that Ciara Mageean is studying in UCD. She turned down numerous lucrative NCAA offers to study in UCD, and now doesn't even have a track to train on within the campus. I don't know how often she uses that track or anything, but she was there as recently as this Monday by all accounts. This is how we treat one of our most talented prospects in all of Irish sport. This literally gets worse the more I think about it.

Also, if Ciara Mageean, our most successful junior in Irish athletics history, deems the track good enough to train on, then it can't have been THAT bad.

woodchopper

04072511 wrote: »

Completely forgot that Ciara Mageean is studying in UCD. She turned down numerous lucrative NCAA offers to study in UCD, and now doesn't even have a track to train on within the campus. I don't know how often she uses that track or anything, but she was there as recently as this Monday by all accounts. This is how we treat one of our most talented prospects in all of Irish sport. This literally gets worse the more I think about it.

Also, if Ciara Mageean, our most successful junior in Irish athletics history, deems the track good enough to train on, then it can't have been THAT bad.

As a representative of the company New Balance Ciara would not be allowed to compete in the NCAA under their amateur legislation. So therefore, after her deal with New Balance she would not get any scholarship to America

Pisco Sour

woodchopper wrote: »

As a representative of the company New Balance Ciara would not be allowed to compete in the NCAA under their amateur legislation. So therefore, after her deal with New Balance she would not get any scholarship to America

Fully aware, but she signed the deal with New Balance after she made the decision to base herself in Ireland. It's not a case that she didn't go to the States because of her contract with NB, but rather that she didn't go to the States because she didn't want to, and then signed the deal with NB after she made this decision.

woodchopper

04072511 wrote: »

Fully aware, but she signed the deal with New Balance after she made the decision to base herself in Ireland. It's not a case that she didn't go to the States because of her contract with NB, but rather that she didn't go to the States because she didn't want to, and then signed the deal with NB after she made this decision.

Yes but in your original post you state that she turned down numerous lucrative offers in the NCAA to study at UCD, This infers that she has made a financial sacrifice to stay in Ireland when the possibility of a professional shoe contract was perhaps always on the table. This may be one of the reasons why she chose to stay at home, along with her current training setup.

Pisco Sour

woodchopper wrote: »

Yes but in your original post you state that she turned down numerous lucrative offers in the NCAA to study at UCD, This infers that she has made a financial sacrifice to stay in Ireland when the possibility of a professional shoe contract was perhaps always on the table. This may be one of the reasons why she chose to stay at home, along with her current training setup.

Lucrative probably wasn't the best word to use.

token56

The SaveUCDTrack twitter account seems to be suspended, anyone know why?

robinph

So what is the relevance of the panda?

donothoponpop

Facebook and Twitter campaigns only form part of any pressure campaign. We have hundreds of elected representatives who are mandated to raise concerns of citizens at a parliamentary level. Eamonn Coughlan is now a Senator, there's probably no-one in politics more interested in what you think about the state of athletics facilities. If you feel strongly that demolition work should be halted and the track reopened, until a new one is ready, his email address is eamonn.coghlan@oireachtas.ie

badtinegirl

Its not demolition its an act of vandalism.

I would maybe believe the Health and safety guff, but they have cut down the nets for the hammer etc whats the reason for that?

Looks like two fingers to all the people that used the track and field.

Whats next two security men to guard it. Lets make sure we p*ss away as much money as possible.

Im only here a few months the waste of funds seems incredible.

donothoponpop

badtinegirl wrote: »

Im only here a few months the waste of funds seems incredible.

There's millions available to spend when the UCD president needs some interior decorating done to his residence:

UCD spent more than €3m on the refurbishment of President Hugh Brady's house in 2004, double original estimates, according to sources at the college.
The Sunday Independent first revealed the huge spend on the presidential lodge back in August 2004, but new information obtained suggests that the total spend for Dr Brady's makeover of the house was closer to €3.5m than the original €1.5m we reported at the time.

Several senior academics as well as the Students' Union have reacted to the news of the spend with "deep shock" and "anger", as it coincides with the request for a major pay hike for the heads of all the universities, while the college's staff were refused a three per cent increase.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ucd-disputes-overspend-to-redo-presidents-house-121911.html

Timmaay

There is no end to that mans sins to be honest!!

THE HIGHER Education Authority is to request the repayment of €6 million in “unauthorised” allowances paid by UCD and the other universities to senior academics.

The move is certain to be strongly resisted by UCD president Dr Hugh Brady who claims any such action would be “inappropriate” and open to legal question.

But the authority’s tough stance has the support of Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin.

A meeting of the authority board heard that UCD accounted for about €4 million of the payments made without sanction from the HEA or Department of Education.

The authority board has agreed that 50 per cent of the overpayments should be paid directly to the HEA for future campus development, with the remainder used to support student services in each college. Universities would have to make the repayment from their own resources; the individuals who benefited from the payments will not be liable.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1028/1224306624659.html

clear thinking

Very disapointing that this has happened. I suppose the athletes / athletics clubs can ask for a painted track as an intermim solution, similar to trinity.

The sports capital programs have also been restarted so there is no reason why UCD could not have applied for this funding with support from local clubs, ie DSD and the college clubs too.

Raising 50k, matched by the college and matched in turn by the grant would be 200k for a relaid track.

But the attitude of the college to not even discuss this with stakeholders wont have me holding my breath for this.

token56

Not sure this is the best way to go about getting attention but I'm sure it will have got peoples attention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa1Kr96Cwbs

TheRoadRunner

Power to the students :pac:

3.50 into the video is great, "the bastards".

smunchkins

We just got in the weekly planning list I can't post a link to the map or the application directly here, but I can to the search box:

http://planning.dlrcoco.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display

Ref No: D11A/0520

You can see the map on under the "documents" section
So they are hoping to do work on the other side of the engineering block anyway.
(whoops, had to correct - Its D11A/0520)

footing

smunchkins wrote: »

We just got in the weekly planning list I can't post a link to the map or the application directly here, but I can to the search box:

http://planning.dlrcoco.ie/swiftlg/apas/run/wphappcriteria.display

Ref No: D11A/0520

You can see the map on under the "documents" section
So they are hoping to do work on the other side of the engineering block anyway.
(whoops, had to correct - Its D11A/0520)

... which will take out a few car parks? It's all beginning to make sense.

footing

badtinegirl wrote: »

Its not demolition its an act of vandalism.

I would maybe believe the Health and safety guff, but they have cut down the nets for the hammer etc whats the reason for that?

Looks like two fingers to all the people that used the track and field.

Whats next two security men to guard it. Lets make sure we p*ss away as much money as possible.

Im only here a few months the waste of funds seems incredible.

Sprinters thrown off track by "heavies" last night...

footing

Another example of UCD's cack-handed approach to management (via SIPTU):

"UCD recently informed staff in the main restaurant that it will be franchised out to a private firm.
The announcement was made with scant regard to the loyalty and commitment that staff displayed over the years.
A written statement was initially read out to two union representatives and they were asked to convey the announcement to their members. It was only after staff demanded a meeting, that the local manager read out this statement to all concerned – but refused to engage in discussion.
This move by UCD is entirely unacceptable. On November 19th 2009, UCD appeared at the Labour Relations Committee and agreed to a trial period of two years to see how the restaurant performed. The agreement stated that
‘At the end of this 2 year period the situation will be reviewed by management: if there has not been a significant revenue improvement at that stage it is accepted that management will revert to its original proposal to appoint an outsourced catering manager’.
After the 2009 agreement, staff showed great flexibility in a collective effort to improve performance. They showed a willingness to engage in weekend working when necessary.
UCD did not wait until the end of the two year period – but has broken a collective agreement in a most blatant manner. Moreover, they have ignored the significant improvements that HAVE taken place in the restaurant.
In 2009, when the LRC agreement was concluded the deficit at the restaurant was €470,000.After Year 1, the deficit was reduced to €320,000 and in the financial year just finished, it was further reduced to €70,000.
The deficit would have been completely wiped out were it not for a number of very poor management decisions:
• A loss of €70,000 arose from moving the Sandwich Bar upstairs. The move took place against the explicit advise of the staff.
• A ten-year contract was awarded to Britvic which caused an immediate increase in cost price – and a further loss of revenue.
• Money from a private donation was used to create a private dining room – but this was then ripped out a few years later.
• Costs for electricity and contract cleaning appear to be apportioned to the restaurant in an unfair way.

SIPTU regards these developments as extremely serious. If UCD management can break an agreement and start privatising parts of the college, a precedent will have been set for all staff.
We are, therefore, not willing to accept this situation and shall soon be calling a general meeting of all staff to discuss how we respond to this and other issues.
We will not tolerate a situation where the hard work and loyalty of union members is thrown back in our face.

firemouth

If my club had a running track(which they dont,we are a very small club)and decided to rip it up and replace it with a revenue generating car park I would probably choose not to represent that club anymore,very extreme I know but what a source of embaressment it would be for UCD to not be able to field a team for an event.

BillieBob

That planning application certainly looks like the real reason. Literally 2 mins away walking (or more likely 5 secs in a car) on the same entrance road from the N11 so the running track will be turned into a bus terminus (due to the water attenuation works). Perish the thought that they'd loose the car park across the road (behind the Engineering building and John Hume institute) for a bus terminus instead!

All their developing is catching up on them and running out of green space to soak up the rain runoff!

donothoponpop

I sent an email condemning this closure of Belfield track to Senator Eamonn Coughlan, and fair play to him, he replied. He says UCD needs to give answers to the athletics community, and he will be discussing the issue on RTE next Monday night. Anyone who has relevant info for his consideration over the weekend, his email address is eamonn.coghlan@oireachtas.ie .

Timmaay

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1126/1224308187644.html

Good article from Ian in tomorrows Times. Cliona Foley had a good writeup in todays indo also.

plodder

BillieBob wrote: »

That planning application certainly looks like the real reason. Literally 2 mins away walking (or more likely 5 secs in a car) on the same entrance road from the N11 so the running track will be turned into a bus terminus (due to the water attenuation works). Perish the thought that they'd loose the car park across the road (behind the Engineering building and John Hume institute) for a bus terminus instead!

All their developing is catching up on them and running out of green space to soak up the rain runoff!

From what I can see the track area isn't included as part of that application. But, in any case, it would be no harm to make a submission on it pointing out the concerns. And you could argue that it should be included if that is what their intention is. Afaik, it's bad form to split related works into separate planning applications. It isn't really believable that they don't actually have plans for the track area.

badtinegirl

There is a good tread on this on the UCD Board that is worth a look. Reading both treads it looks like the new lake at Eng building will be built- installed soon, UCD sports (Brian Mullins) are told to get rid off the track and field ASAP by the college admin. The best way to do this play the health and safety card. The report seems to have only one recommendation but no one has seen it for this to be confirmed. So the track and field get decommissioned immediately, it will be left sit for a month or two until the fuss dies down then the cars start to appear on the track maybe around graduation time as an overflow car park. Job done.

As I said before this is an act of vandalism and cynical.

plodder

badtinegirl wrote: »

There is a good tread on this on the UCD Board that is worth a look. Reading both treads it looks like the new lake at Eng building will be built- installed soon, UCD sports (Brian Mullins) are told to get rid off the track and field ASAP by the college admin. The best way to do this play the health and safety card. The report seems to have only one recommendation but no one has seen it for this to be confirmed. So the track and field get decommissioned immediately, it will be left sit for a month or two until the fuss dies down then the cars start to appear on the track maybe around graduation time as an overflow car park. Job done.

As I said before this is an act of vandalism and cynical.

Totally agree on the cynical vandalism. But, they only submitted that planning application on Nov 14. It would take a few months realistically before they could start work on it (assuming nobody objects). And they'd need to submit another application before they can use the track as a car-park.

woodchopper

If the track closure is down to Health and Safety or at least that is what they are trying to base it on why dont UCD Athletics advocate for a gravel or dirt track in that exact location. This would elimate the slippy surface nonsense and provides no reason to maintain the track closure unless belfield officials have more sinister plans such as car parks.