New era for historic Mayo building

A new tenant is set to move into Westport Courthouse and breathe new life into the historic building which has lain idle for over a decade.

Members of Westport Municipal District are being asked this week to consider the leasing of the courthouse, which is a two-storey protected structure located to the left of the traffic lights on entering Westport town, to the Clew Bay Heritage Centre, following a public tender process.

According to Julianne Gavin, Head of Property, Internal Audit & Organisational Change at Mayo County Council, the council sought expressions of interest from suitable organisations interested in entering into a lease agreement for the former Courthouse on Castlebar Street in Westport, which was a busy legal hub up until 2013 when it was closed by the Courts Service due to health and safety reasons, following which Westport court hearings moved to Castlebar. In 2021 the building was acquired from the Office of Public Works by Mayo County Council.

The tender process ran from the 7th of June 2022 to the 24th of June 2022 with advertisements placed in all four local papers and thirteen Expressions of Interest received. All were offered a tour of the premises to ensure that the current condition of the building was fully understood and each visit entailed a viewing of all the rooms, a discussion on the fact that the building is listed as a protected structure and that Mayo County Council has no funding available at this time to renovate the building and, as such, all renovation works will be the responsibility of the lessee.

Clew Bay Heritage CLG was recommended for the use of the Westport Courthouse on the basis that its proposal would contribute positively both socially and economically to Westport town and its environs. Its proposal is to create a prominent heritage centre, located in the centre of town, that will add to the town’s tourism and heritage offering. Currently, the heritage centre is located at the Quay in Westport.

It is proposed to enter into an initial 2-year Lease agreement with Clew Bay Heritage CLG with a proposed rent of €100 per annum for this initial term.

According to the council, this initial 2-year lease will allow the lessee to undertake structural and architectural surveys on the building, identify sources of possible renovation funding and advance the plans for its future social and economic use. Any proposed repairs, renovations or interventions to the internal or external building fabric of the structure must be agreed in writing with Mayo County Council and consider the status of the structure as included on the Register of Protected Structures.

Mayo County Council also agreed in principle, upon request in good time, to bring forward a subsequent Section 183 planning application for a longer-term lease up to 25 years to the Council for approval – pending all Milestones/Agreements achieved and Mayo County Council being satisfied with the proposed longer-term use of the building.

Milestones/Agreements refers to satisfactory progress made on possible future plans for the building such as and not limited to, building surveys, updated design drawings, identification of possible funding sources, etc. All Milestones/Agreement will remain the discretion of Mayo County Council.

The proposal was fully endorsed by members of Westport Belmullet MD at their meeting yesterday and will now go before Mayo County Council for approval at a future meeting.