Shannon Town Centre described as “second rate”

THE offering at Shannon Town Centre is “second rate” this week’s meeting of local councillors heard.

Councillor Gerry Flynn made the claim about the Town Centre, while he also criticised County Council planners for prioritising the Town Centre by refusing planning permission for an Aldi store across the road from it.

Councillor Flynn criticised the decision to develop a new public facility at a site in the Town Centre, which the Council is set to lease rather than buy from the Shannon Airport Group.

This week saw Clare County Council sign contracts for the design of the One Shannon Hub, which is set to combine a town hall, an adaptable performance and community space, library, and flexible co-working spaces at an unused site in the Town Centre.

The land is set to be taken on a 999 year lease by the Council, and will feature public realm improvements to the Town Square.

While progress was being presented as a positive development at Tuesday’s meeting of Shannon, Councillor Flynn raised a number of concerns about the direction it is going in.

He said that the One Shannon Hub should be developed on a site already owned by the Council. “I don’t support the spending of public money to prop up private operators in the Town Centre.”

Councillor PJ Ryan said that the site would be better in the Council’s ownership, rather than being leased. “Surely that should be possible,” he said. “The amount of money is serious and it would be important that Clare County Council own it.”

He said that property is frequently sold by The Shannon Airport Group and that it would not be a “big deal” for it to sell the site to the Council.

Councillor Flynn said that the Group had already sold workshops in Ballycasey. “They’d sell their own mother if they could,” he added.

Councillor Flynn said that the Council had opted to protect the Town Centre, by not allowing neighbouring development until it was built out. He also said that Aldi could have brought in additional footfall into Shannon, but planners blocked them, to facilitate the existing Town Centre, where he said the offering is “second rate”.

In a statement on the provision of the One Shannon Hub this week, Clare County Council said, “Significant progress has been made in the delivery of a transformational cultural, community and civic building in Shannon town centre.
“Clare County Council has signed contracts with BDP (Integrated Design Team) and Tom McNamara & Partners (Integrated QS & Project Manager) for the design of a multi-functional building known as the ‘One Shannon Hub’, which will combine a town hall, an adaptable performance and community space, library, and flexible co-working spaces in the heart of County Clare’s second largest town.

“The new development, which will be located on land held on a 999-year lease by Clare County Council, will also feature public realm improvements to the town square adjacent to the site.

“The One Shannon Hub is a key element of the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan, which was part-funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, Project Ireland 2040, under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with match funding by Clare County Council.”

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, said: “The One Shannon Hub will be a place where multiple uses coexist in the town centre to create new synergies and ensure activity throughout the day and night. This 3-in-1 approach merges community, cultural and civic uses, with the Shannon Municipal District Offices being relocated to the heart of the town centre. The community space will provide for a variety of uses that include co-working, education and training, facilities for local businesses, exhibitions, and other cultural activities.”