Council hope to have Briery Gap reopened by end of 2018

MORE than a year after a blaze gutted a large section of the Briery Gap Cultural Centre in Macroom, the process of rising the building phoenix-like form the ashes of disaster has finally commenced.

This after it emerged that Cork County Council has issued a tender for the appointment of a specialist engineering team to undertake the redesign and refurbishment of the landmark building.

It has remained closed since the fire ripped through the building, leaving a trail of destruction in May of last year.

Prospective applicants were given a date in early October to lodge their submissions to the local authority for the task of refurbishing the venue.

Jim Molloy, senior executive engineer for the council’s Blarney/Macroom Municipal District, told The Corkman that they hoped to award the contract for the works to the successful applicant by the end of October at the latest.

“The design process will take in the region of four to six months to complete, after which we will be seeking tenders for the construction and refurbishment works,” said Mr Molloy.

He said the successful deign team would be charged with refurbishing and modernising the damaged library, lower floor and theatre.

“The basic layout of the building will remain the same as any major alterations to its original design would entail demolishing the entire centre and rebuilding it,” said Mr Molloy.

“A major element of the refurbishment works will also that of ensuring the building adheres to current regulations in relation to a wide variety of issues such as disability access and fire certificates,” he added.

Mr Molloy said the entire design and refurbishment process would cost in the region of €2 million to complete.

“Once the design team has been appointed and undertaken its preliminary works, we will have a clearer indication of how long the whole process will take,” he said.

“At this stage we would be hopeful that the refurbishment works would be completed some time towards the back end next yea. All going well, we would be hopeful that the centre will be reopened by the end of 2018,” he said.

News that the design tender has been issued has been given a warm welcome locally,.

Macroom-based Cork County Councillor Ted Lucey saying he was “delighted” there was finally light appearing at the end of the tunnel.

“I have been raising this issue on a monthly basis at our municipal district meetings in order to keep the pressure on and make sure it did not slip down the agenda,” said Cllr Lucey.

“I am delighted the process of reopening the centre has commenced and the design phase is finally going to tender.

This was always going to be along process, but this is a major step forward and will hopefully speed up the whole process,” he added.