The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
CLARE County Council is close to taking over a site at Shannon, where a civic building could be installed, this week’s meeting of Municipal District councillors heard.
Giving an update to members, Director of Service Liam Conneally said that work is continuing on Shannon’s application for Urban Regeneration Development Funding.
He also said that the Council is in the process of concluding the lease on the relevant site, and then it will come under the local authority’s control.
The recently launched Shannon Town Centre Masterplan has a plan for something called the One Shannon Hub, which would have multiple uses, including relocated County Council offices, a ‘greenhouse’ which would be a space for a variety of uses such as co-working, education, and training, exhibitions, meeting rooms and conference opportunities. The building would also have a performing arts venue.
Mr Conneally said a lot of work has been done on the brief and the proposed size of the building for the site.
He said that at an upcoming meeting it is hoped that it will be possible to give “a good flavour” of what the development will be and the proposed uses.
Councillor PJ Ryan asked if work was going on regarding leasing another building in the area as well.
Responding, Mr Conneally said that the ownership of the building in question is different to the site for the proposed hub. He added that while nothing has been advanced on the other building, the Council would be interested.
Independent Gerry Flynn said that until the Council’s ownership of the site has been finalised “not one penny” should be spent upon it, as it is not in public hands.
Mr Conneally said the Council executive heard the elected members “loud and clear” regarding the ownership of the site.
He said at the moment both sides are quite close to finalising the terms and conditions of the lease. Regarding the other nearby building, he said the Council would have to look at the question of value before expressing any interest.
He assured the members that the local authority will handle the matter properly.
“When Clare County Council and the Shannon Municipal District take on a project they will deliver it, no question.”
Councillor Pat O’Gorman said, “People want it done right and done once.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
