Concern as long-awaited Tipperary project is further delayed
Fresh concerns have been raised about the delay of a long-awaited Tipperary project by local representatives.
Councillors were told at the July meeting of the Clonmel Borough District that the much-anticipated new Clonmel Garda Station was now due to start in the third quarter of this year, representing another delay in the project.
Speaking at the meeting, Mayor of Clonmel Pat English said he was concerned that the new Clonmel Garda Station was now slated to start in quarter three of this year, rather than this summer as had been hoped.
As part of plans, a new garda station for Clonmel would be built at the multi-million euro Kickham Barracks Plaza project, being relocated from its current base on Emmet Street.
The existing garda station has been hailed as not fit for purpose by elected representatives.
In response to Cllr English’s concerns, the district administrator told the meeting that the project is progressing and that the tender document had been assessed with the main contractor.
"The tenderer has been identified and the letter of intent has issued to the tenderer. The approvals have to go through the Department of Justice and the Office of Public Works (OPW) and they’ll appoint a timeline on the contract,” councillors were informed.
Under the plans, a new 3,630 sqm Garda Community Engagement Headquarters for the Tipperary South Area will be built on a 0.46 hectare site, along with two, three and four-storey buildings with a separate single-storey ancillary building to the rear.
The accommodation of the main building will include offices, conference facilities, staff support facilities, custody areas, plant and associated ancillary spaces.
Previously, a spokesperson for the OPW said: “This new building will provide contemporary Garda Síochána facilities and will have the flexibility to accommodate future operational changes.
"When complete, the new Garda facility will integrate with the proposed landscaped public plaza and wider masterplan to reinforce this civic space while supplying vital Garda infrastructure for town policing,” they added.