A STALLED PROCESS IS FINALLY UNDERWAY
Chris continued: “I had highlighted these concerns at several council meetings and sought for key players to positively facilitate an application being submitted.
“I want to compliment the Strandhill Development Association, the Maritime Centre, Celtic Seaweed Baths and the surfing fraternity for working positively to get the project to this stage.
“I have consistently sought for Sligo County Council to take the role of lead agency in this process, as only the Council has the resources and ability to drive forward a project of this stature.
“Senior management have confirmed that this is now the case and subject to a favourable outcome from Fáilte Ireland the Council will implement the project.”
Sligo County Council’s Director of Housing and corporate services Bartley Gavin said: “Fáilte Ireland will make a decision in September.”
This could be the biggest corporate spend on a tourism project in Sligo in years. The designs for the building include a roof clad in black rubber.
London architects Manalo & White won a competition to design the new surfing and coastal community centre.
The building’s full-height perimeter walls will be etched with wild Celtic seascapes and surf scenes by legendary Donegal surfer and graphic artist Barry Britton.
Bartley Gavin said: “The centre will be run by the Strandhill Community Maritime Company.”
The board is made up of councillors, business people and surfing representatives from the Irish Surfing Association and the County Sligo Surf group.
The site is approximately 4,500 square metres in size and will also include market stalls, retail space,meeting rooms and seating areas. The proposed Surfing Centre of Excellence will front on to the promenade.
Bartley said he would be hopeful that the sod turning of the massive development project could happen by March 2019.
He said the finished product will be a huge amenity for the community and a big draw for tourists also.
“We are delighted to get the funding application in and are hopeful that it will be successful. Failte Ireland has showed enthusiasm for the Surfing Centre of Excellence.”
As for any shortfall in funding once the application is approved, Bartley explained that there are a number of other avenues of funding including the recently announced rural renewal schemes: “This would be an ideal scheme for that.”