Feasibility study into community facility
TENDER responses are expected back today (Tuesday, May 5) for a feasibility study for developing a multi-user community facility in Gorey town.
Wexford Local Community Development Committee put out a invitation for expressions of interest for research last month and, as a topic of real interest for councillors and community groups alike, District Manager Michael Drea said that although the end project is some way down the line, this is an important first step.
‘There is the lack of a communal space and venue that different groups can access and use to have meetings or to facilitate their business, this would be the first step in establishing that there is a need and a real demand. It will be the basis for future funding as we’ll have to see what funding opportunities are there, costs for delivery of the service and concept drawings and everything that happens going forward.
‘While the research is conducted, we will be interacting with all the local groups in the town who would like to have an input. This will establish what the need is and bring it to a conceptional stage,’ he said.
The team at Wexford Local Development responded to a €100,000 LEADER funding call and were short-listed. In January, the group sought expressions of interest from community groups in the district around this topic.
The feasibility study is being financed through LEADER funding, which aims to analyse and develop the data around community centres locally, and a final application for LEADER will be put forward in the next phase.
The study will be completed by a competent and independent consultant or consultancy team to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study into developing a multi-user community facility in Gorey.
As such, the study sets out a blueprint for the successful development of a suitable multi-user community facility with a particular focus on its technical and financial viability aimed at providing widespread benefits across the community.
The details for the feasibility study can be found on the tender website, with tender ID 168397.