Councillors in Castlebar seek 'proper' office
A permanent home for Castlebar Municipal District is being demanded by councillors.
Castlebar councillors have again stressed the need for a proper headquarters for the Municipal District.
Councillors agreed at their meeting last week to a proposal for works to change the façade of the Annex building at Áras an Chontae but remain anxious over a lack of movement on a permanent base for their own meetings.
“My biggest concern is that we are passing a Part 8 and we haven’t got a plan for our own district office," said Fine Gael Cllr Donna Sheridan. "Whether it be here, Marsh House, or the main council building. I will be fighting for us to have our own district offices and any changes made to the main council building needs to have a proper allocation to the district office.
“We can’t be left in limbo. We just seem to be forgotten,” she added.
Cllr Blackie Gavin backed his council colleague.
“Every time we come into this room, the chairs are all over the place, I see today we come in and the flags are missing. This room should be locked,” he commented.
Cllr Gavin said other areas have stand-alone municipal district offices while Castlebar does not.
Cllr Cyril Burke proposed that the municipal district could have a base in the main Áras an Chontae building. He said when the main council chamber is revamped it could be the home for Castlebar Municipal District and designed to allow for it to be extended to cater for the monthly meetings of the entire council.
Cllr Harry Barrett said the council had missed an opportunity not to turn the former Imperial Hotel into the headquarters for Castlebar Municipal District and should have its own home.
Mayo County Council has approved plans to borrow €2.15m to refurbish the ground floor of Áras an Chontae and the council chambers.
Director of Services, David Mellett assured councillors that their views are being taken on board, adding: "We have brought up the concerns of the elected members about the meeting rooms and an MD office."
He said the future development of the Áras will be the subject of a Part 8 where the property section of the council will engage with councillors on the issues highlighted.
“It can’t go on the way it is,” said Cllr Sheridan.
- Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
