An Taisce supports €500,000 Kilkishen Cultural Centre

AN independent environmental watchdog has supported plans by a community group to transform a vacant Protestant church in Kilkishen into a new cultural centre costing in the region of €500,000.
An Taisce has been criticised by local county councillors for lodging objections to one-off housing and major developments such as the proposed multi-million euro Tinerana House golf resort and leisure complex in Ogonnelloe.
However, in a departure from its usual practice, An Taisce has broadly supported a planning application lodged by the Kilkishen Development Association to completely renovate the Clonlea Parish Church, Kilkishen, which has been left in a state of disrepair for the last 50 years.
The Kilkishen association has lodged a planning application to Clare County Council seeking refurbishment of the building and extension to the north side, provision of new parking spaces, footpath, entrance gate, disabled access ramp and all associated site works, new slate roof to existing tower, repositioning of part of existing stone boundary wall and connection to existing public sewer at Gortnacorragh, Kilkishen.
In its submission to the council, the Clare association of An Taisce stated it welcomed this change of use because frequently unused protected structures deteriorated and it recommended their use for local community purposes.
It also welcomed the provision of a bat survey and recommended that all the mitigating recommendations should be implemented and sites should be considered for designation as a protected bat site.
“Water management would be adequate for the established EU drinking and waste disposal systems assessed should be within the performance of the EU water framework for surface and ground water protection. We would welcome the public systems being upgraded rather than to use existing system when required.”
While grant aid will be available to the development group, it is expected that a minimum of 25% of the total cost will have to be raised locally to progress the development subject to planning permission.
An assessment carried out on behalf of the group by Grace Consulting Engineers, Limerick, noted the external envelope of the building has suffered some deterioration, largely due to extensive ivy growth throughout.
The majority of the ivy has been cut to prevent any further infestation, however, the removal of the now dead ivy will require very careful consideration.
There are a number of locations recorded in the attached photographic record where ivy growth has caused displacement of the existing stonework.
These are noticeable on the upper western elevation of the bell tower, on the diagonal buttresses and on the raised barges on both ends of the nave. A number of cracks are also visible along bedding joints in the stonework, which are a direct consequence of the ivy infestation and also possible freeze and thaw action due to moisture ingress in to the displaced joints.
The assessment noted it is essential that these routes to moisture penetration are sealed by the removal of displaced stonework, raking out of old mortar, the removal of any remaining ivy, the application of a good herbicide and rebedding and pointing of stonework.
“Internally, a new floor incorporating damp proof membrane and insulation should be considered. The existing floor is in very poor condition and it is assumed that this will be removed,” the report stated.
A bat survey of the buildings completed by Dr Tina Aughney, Bat Eco Services revealed a derogation licence would be required from the National Parks and Wildlife Service because the proposed works would result in the loss of two roosting sites.
Ms Aughney recommended that work to the church should be undertaken outside the months of mid-April to September, while a bat survey should be done in September to determine if the soprano pipistrelles have left the building at the end of the summer season.
She stressed that no works should start until proposed bat roosts are provided in the bell tower and chimney and vault.