This article is from page 24 of the 2011-02-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 24 JPG
LOCAL councillors have voted in favour of a proposal that would see two residents in Cloughleigh sit on an advisory group for a new youth and community resource building to be managed by Clare Youth Services.
Locals have been opposed to the siting of the € 500,000 building at Cloughleigh Road in Ennis, due to fears over anti-social behaviour and the perceived impact the centre would have on elderly residents.
Following requests from local councillors and residents, the outline of a proposed lease agreement between the council and Clare Youth Services was presented at yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.
The proposed advisory panel would also include one local councillor and a council official with a further eight more people with “recognised experience” to be selected by Clare Youth Service.
It is also proposed that the opening hours for the centre be from “8am to 10 pm each day”.
This proposal was criticised by Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) who said the centre should not be open seven days a week. Town manager Ger Dollard explained it was unlikely the building would be open on a seven-day basis. He said the opening hours had been proposed to allow for greater use of the building by members of the wider Cloughleigh community.
Mr Dollard said it was a pity that the building had become “bogged down in negativity” as it was a very positive project for Ennis.
He warned that unless councillors voted to accept his recommendation to agree a lease with Clare Youth Service, then the building would remain “vacant”.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) said that at a time of unemployment when there is a “crying demand” for youth and community services, it would be “reprehensible for elected members to leave that building empty”.
Five councillors – Tommy Brennan (Ind), Peter Considine (FF), Johnny Flynn (FG), Brian Meaney (GP) and Paul O’Shea (Lab) – voted in favour of progressing the lease agreement on the condition that two residents sit on the advisory panel.
Three councillors – Mary Howard (FG), Frankie Neylon (Ind) and Michael Guilfoyle – voted against the proposal. Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) was not present at the meeting.