Abandoned boat prevents boxing club from getting fire certificate

An abandoned boat, which is parked in front of a Mayo sporting facility, is preventing the club from obtaining a fire safety certificate. 

The boat is parked at The Quay in Westport in front of the Eagles Boxing Club, which cannot pass the fire safety test as a result.

Independent Cllr John O’Malley raised the issue at last week's meeting of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District.

“It’s only ten feet from the door and they won’t get the fire certificate while that boat is there. There’s no need for it to be there, that boat needs to be moved. There’s been nothing done about it and it’s time now that there was action taken to find out who owns this boat and move it,” Cllr O’Malley said.

“Surely we’re not going to have the boxing club close down just because we won’t move a boat. It’s not fair, they’re doing a lot of good out there with the youth who are going to the gym and boxing. If these people have to close the gym because the boat isn’t moved, it’s a scandal.” 

Cllr Christy Hyland said the boat is obstructing the emergency exit.

Fine Gael Cllr Peter Flynn said that The Quay is a “mess”.

“There are boats abandoned everywhere. It should be a priority in the new year that we set some structure around that whole area around there, so people know where they can and can’t park their boats,” Cllr Flynn said.

Head of the district, Pádraic Walsh, said the council would follow up and try to identify the owner of the boat, and then get it relocated. He also urged the Eagle Boxing Club to work on renewing their lease with the council.