Council anger over site future

SHANNON Town Councillors have said they are disappointed about a lack of consultation from Shannon Development regarding the future of a local one-acre site.
The Clare Champion of February 8 carried an ad from Shannon Development in which it said it was “seeking proposals from suitable individuals/consortiums/companies for purchase/lease of land for the development of a community project on a c 1 acre site at Shannon Town Centre”.
A closing date for the request of a tender form was given as the following Friday, February 15.
At last Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Labour’s Greg Duff put forward a motion asking that the council express its disappointment that greater efforts weren’t made to consult the local community regarding the site.
His colleague Tony McMahon said Shannon Development had made a “feeble effort” to engage with community interests.
Independent Gerry Flynn said he felt Shannon Development had “shown arrogance in the way they have dealt with this particular site”.
He said a body like Clare County Council could have a role in making sure that such a site would remain the property of the public.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy said she knew at least one group was interested in the site. She also said if a site like it was going to be obtained at a nominal cost, there would need to be a clause to ensure that it would revert to public ownership in the future, if circumstances change.
Town manager Bernadette Kinsella said it is “not unusual” for long-term leases to community groups to have a clause ensuring that if the intended use ceases, the property revert to the relevant local authority.