by Louise Doyle
DONEGAL County Council has given the green light to the refurbishment of a Letterkenny gym used to help people who have spinal cord injuries.
No Barriers Foundation CLG submitted plans to Donegal County Council in August. Under proposals, the applicant sought the go-ahead for the refurbishment of its existing gym in Pinehill Industrial Estate, Letterkenny.
Proposals included the alteration to the front elevation with connection to the existing public wastewater treatment, existing water mains and all associated site works.
Planning permission has been granted, subject to nine conditions.
These include that the windows approved shall be dark brown/grey/black in colour to match the colour of the external cladding of the mezzanine floor in the interest of visual amenity.
Another condition is that no audible music or speaker announcements should be played via public speakers between 7am and 9am and 9pm and 10pm.
Opening hours of the gym shall be confined to the hours of 7am to 10pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm on Saturdays and 12 noon to 6pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Wastewater shall be via the existing connection to the public sewer as detailed on the planning application form submitted with the planning application.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Johnny Loughrey, of No Barriers Foundation, said he was pleased with the planning permission go-ahead.
He said it was the “first piece of the puzzle”.
The refurbishment of the gym will be dependent on a sports capital grant application we have submitted, and we will find out next year if we are successful with it.
“The first piece of the puzzle was to get architects on board. Most of the work will be internal.
“If we do get the sports capital grant we will have a state-of-the art gym where people with disabilities can exercise.”
The No Barriers Foundation is a not for profit organisation aims to create an inclusive health facility equipped with specialist neurological equipment allowing anyone with a disability to train and improve their current level of physical and mental health by targeting mobility, strength and physical fitness regardless of their current baseline.
In December 2016, No Barriers launched ‘Positive Steps Campaign’ to raise the funds necessary to bring an Eskobionics Robotic Exoskeleton to Donegal.
Thanks to generous funding, this has been achieved and rehabilitation has already commenced.
The Exoskeleton is a comprehensive gait therapy tool which provides an unparalleled rehabilitation experience for patients and therapists alike.
This machine, in certain circumstances, can help patients with spinal cord injuries to walk again whilst in the machine.
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