Tendering for new Kanturk fire station could begin within weeks

THE chief fire officer for Cork County, Séamus Coughlan, has said it is hoped that the tendering process for the planned new fire station in Kanturk will commence before the end of the summer.

In May of last year Kanturk/Mallow area councillors gave the green light to a Part 8 planning application for the new facility on a 1.4-acre site at the Mill Road junction on Percival Street purchased several years ago by the council for a figure believed to be in the region of €1 million.

The application made provision for a two-vehicle fire house and associated internal works, including watch and assembly rooms, toilets/showers, workshop and muster bay and external facilities including a drill yard and 10 car-parking spaces.

At the time council architect Orla Higgins said it was hoped work on the new facility would get underway some time this year.

“The upgrade we are proposing is for a new fire station capable of housing modern equipment, bringing the local service in line with modern standards and providing improved access and egress in emergencies,” said Ms Higgins.

The move was welcomed by councillors, with Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) saying the new facility was badly needed as the current station was “little more than a garage”.

Last December the head of the Council’s environment directorate, Louis Duffy, said the project was moving ahead and it was hoped the fire station would be fully operational by the spring of next year.

However, with no further progress update forthcoming from the authority since, Cllr Bernard Moynihan (FF) raised the issue with the acting director of services, Ted O’Leary, at the June northern area committee meeting seeking a time-line for the scheme.

He in turn contacted Mr Coughlan seeking projected time-lines for the new fire station.

In his reply to councillors, Mr Coughlan wrote that detailed design drawings and a cost plan were currently before Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government officials awaiting approval.

“Subject to receipt of the necessary approvals, we would hope to have tender documents finalised and be ready to go to tender within a further two months,” wrote Mr Coughlan.

He said that it was envisaged it would take a further six-months to complete the tendering process and award the contract for the facility, “subject to Department approvals along the way”.

“Thereafter, a contract period in the region of 12-months to completion and handover is likely,” he concluded.