Go-ahead given for new community centre to be constructed in Kilglass
PLANNING permission has been granted for the building of a new community centre in Kilglass.
The new centre, which the local community council hopes will become a hub for the community, will include a range of spaces and facilties, including a large multipurpose hall.
The new centre will be located adjacent to the Church of the Holy Family, opposite local pub Sheridan’s Bar and close to the national school.
The plan is to demolish an existing derelict single storey building, which has been used down the years as a mix of residential/commercial units and and construct the new community centre on the site.
A recent GoFundMe fundraiser for the centre will include an after-school facility with ample room for playing both inside and outside.
There will also be two shared offices to facilitate remote working and also provide a revenue stream for the facility. With fibre broadband serving the building there will also be hot desk facilities and there will be a kitchen and coffee dock. A meeting room with teleconferencing facilities will also be available.
At the rear of the building there will be a large hall and stage to facilitate music and dancing lessons, indoor sports, concerts, performances and social gatherings. It stated: “This will be a hub within the community supporting children, workers and recreation.” It also stated that this is a significant project for which they were seeking many sources of funding but will also need community support. A cover letter with the application stated that the new centre was for the people of Kilglass, that the building was adjacent to the Church of the Holy Family and could also be used for any church-related events and would also be available to the local national school for sports, plays and other activities if required.
The site is owned by St Muredach’s Trust (which is operated by the Catholic diocese of Killala) and previously housed residental accommodation, a shop (Cardens), petrol pumps and a garage. It stated that “these have long since closed and the existing building is derelict and unsafe”. It stated that the new building will be low level at the front to blend in with the traditional existing buildings in the cluster of houses that form Kilgass village.
There are two disabled parking spaces to the front of the building and all other parking will be in the church car park where there are 65 spaces available.
The council planner Michaela Davidescu noted that the old structure to be demolished has been used in part as residential accommodation, a shop and car repairs garage, which is currently vacant and has been neglected for many years.
The planner said there was no objection in principle to the replacement of the old structure with a new building for community purposes.
However, the planner did seek additional information in relation to the proposed onsite wastewater treatment system and sight lines for traffic on the western (church) side. Having received satisfactory responses to these, the planner recommended the granting of planning permission for the proposed facility.