This article is from page 31 of the 2008-04-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
FIVE years after the first plans were put in place, the first sod will finally be turned on a €1.2 million multi-pronged community project in Sixmilebridge, later this week.
The site on the Shannon road will, within the next three years, house a community centre, playground, childcare facility and daycare centre for the elderly.
Those facilities are currently of- JC UL MED UOMO DU BKK ER (o) OL Uo MEE-D ILO MEE Te main aim behind the project is to en- sure top-class facilities are available, all on the one site.
The sod-turning on Thursday, by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor Pa- tricia McCarthy (Independent) will
pave the way for the development of the first prong of the project, the playground portion of the site.
This will later be followed by the development of the childcare facil- ity and then the elderly unit, both of which are awaiting the final funding NORE ene eLRe
It is hoped that a community hall will be built on the site, at a later Stage.
The project is being developed under the auspices of the Bridge Complex, which acquired the site. PRO Marelen Cadogan said there is a great sense of anticipation for the commencement of the work.
“Finally, after all the waiting, we will have the sod-turning and the diggers will move in,” said Ms Ca-
Foyer hee
Clare County Council allocated grant aid for the playground and the playground committee raised local funding to build what is expected to be a state-of-the-art playground.
Ms Cadogan said the fourth part of the project, the community hall, will be necessary, as there is pressure for space for rooms in the old courthouse building at present.
“The meeting rooms in the court- house are booked out at the moment. We are going to keep them there until we get to build the new centre. There is a need for more space,” she added.
Allied to Government funding, several thousands of euro was raised in Sixmilebridge and surrounding
Aare ASe
This project would not have been possible, were it not for those contri- le LULBKOyEtSE
“Locally, people have been very good. There is a great feeling about it at this stage,” said Ms Cadogan.
“This 1s a momentous occasion in our village and a testimony to the hard work and dedication of volun- teers who want to give something back to the community they live in,” she added.
The local group is also hoping to get Family Resource Centre status, which will give it a more structured working title.
“We are hoping to get that status. That will give us a structure then,” she said.