This article is from page 10 of the 2008-05-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
KILRUSH Town Councillor, Tom Prendeville (FF) called for an end to any negativity being fed to the press regarding the purchase of a €1.4 mil- lion site for civic offices on Francis Nlstsem
The councillor was speaking at this month’s meeting of the local authority members during which he proposed that the town manager ap- point a design team to draw up a plan for the new offices on the site of the former Inis Cathaigh hotel.
‘In what some might see as a quan- tum leap of faith in you, town man-
ager, to deliver a building in line with our dreams, hopes and aspirations for the delivery of a better public serv- ice to the people of Kilrush, we now earnestly request you to appoint the design team as an important first step in our overall objective,” he said.
“In our budget proposal for 2008, this council wisely set aside seed cap- ital to expedite our need for modern civic offices in the west Clare capital. There is also a dire need for some form of a civic art centre to be incorporated into the proposed development.”
Town Manager Bernadette Kin- sella said that the site purchased was a prestigious site and only fitting for
the council.
She said confirmation of the agree- ment to purchase the site was sent to the councillors immediately after the council executive was confident of a deal. “Any such commercial transac- tions had to be conducted in confi- dence,” she said.
The manager said she did not know how much it would cost to renovate the derelict site, but estimated the cost at approximately €5 million.
She was also unsure how the cost would be split between the two local authorities – Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Council. “Subject to sitting down and looking at the
figures, | would presume 50-50,” she ene
Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) asked, “Are we looking at higher rates and higher car parking fees?”’
‘I don’t have any answers,” said Ms Kinsella. The effect the cost would have on local rates would be a matter for the members, she added.
Meanwhile, the father of the coun- cil, Cllr Jack Fennell (Ind), said that while he welcomed the new offices, he was “totally against” moving the chamber from the town hall.
The councillors are to meet in workshops to discuss any sugges- tions for the design.