Clare County Council has been called on to takeover plans to build a major civic centre in Shannon, after a voluntary group shelved its plans over funding issues.
The Shannon Venue has been in the planning for seven years, but after the latest round of Government funding fell short of what’s needed to bring the project to fruition, those behind it say they can’t take it any further.
But the town’s local representatives say the plan was over ambitious, as Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill reports.
The Shannon Venue has been in the planning for seven years, with voluntary group Croí na Sionna behind the push to find a turnkey solution towards enhancing Shannon.
A site has been identified, planning permission has been secured, but last week only 100,000 euro was granted for the multi-functional Community, Civic and Arts Centre
This falls a long way short of the 8 million euro needed to bring the project to fruition, and this – along with the suggestion that there be another plan for Shannon – has led backers of The Venue to shelve their plans.
Chairman of the Shannon Venue Project, Derek Barrett says the decision hasn’t been taken lightly.
It was hoped by some that this project would kick-start the revitalisation of Shannon town, and today’s news has been met with widespread disappointment.
One of its supporters has been the Head of Shannon’s largest employer, Mick Guinee of EI Electronics.
Questions have been asked as to whether the project was overly-ambitious, meanwhile.
Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn has accused Government representatives of playing politics with people’s lives, in allowing it to reach this stage without giving it the necessary backing.
Councillor Flynn believes the way forward is quite simple.
Sinn Féin Councillor Mike McKee feels the development amounts to a kick in the teeth for people in Shannonn, and has echoed the views of Councillor Flynn in saying local representatives should have been part of the project to date.
