Vote on Scariff car park ‘before Santa arrives’

HOPES are high that a new car park for Scariff will go through the planning process before the end of the year. 

Pressure has been growing on public representatives to progress the issue, as the business community, shoppers and other stakeholders continue to voice concern over the lack of local parking.

The matter was raised once again at a meeting Killaloe Municipal District, when Councillor Joe Cooney sought an update. Members had previously been told that efforts to accelerate progress had been made, after the car park element was separated out of a bigger project which will also see the development of a multi-service centre and improvements to the town centre.

At the September meeting, Councillor Cooney asked district officials where matters currently stand. 

Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Morgan Lahiffe assured members that work is ongoing. “We have now engaged with all stakeholders, councillors, Scariff Community Council and Scariff Town Team,” he said.

“The acquisition of land has been agreed. The solicitors are working to get all paper work in order to enable acquisition process to be completed. Parcels of land can be sometimes not straight forward to get over the line. There is still a little paperwork to be dealt with. 

The design of car park is complete – in tandem with design of the multi-service hub. I believed we will go to Part 8 planning in the next few weeks. We are that close. I would hope you’ll be voting on the application before Santa arrives.”

Councillor Cooney thanked Mr Morgan for the update. “We are all well aware of how essential a car park will be going forward,” he said. “I’m delighted to hear the Part 8 will be coming soon. Compliments to Morgan and team for their work on this.”

Last January, an allocation of just over half a million Euro was made by The Rural and Community Development towards the Scariff Rural Regeneration Project. The works will involve the development of a Multi Service Innovation and Engagement Hub, improvements to the centre of the town, around the Market Square, and the new car park.