Tuborg
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District Court on move to Butler’s Henry Street building (Limerick Leader)
THE Irish Prison Service has confirmed that Limerick District Court will be relocated to a more secure location on Henry Street close to the city’s garda headquarters.
The Limerick Leader revealed in July that the Office of Public Works was
in negotiations with two developers in the city, and it is now understood that the proposed new site for the district courthouse is the former post office which is part of a major redevelopment project by Robert Butler Group.Meanwhile, Mayor Kevin Kiely said if he did not get a firm undertaking from the Department of Justice and the Office of Public Works that the courthouse is indeed going to be moved, he is “going to take a conscious decision and not accept any further dignitaries at City Hall.”
The mayor, who welcomed the German Ambassador to Limerick last Thursday, said: “I am not going to put them (visiting dignitaries) in a situation where they could get caught up in a fracas outside the courthouse, like what happened last Wednesday.”
Successive mayors have called for the relocation of the district courthouse, which currently forms part of City Hall on Merchant’s Quay, because of the often chaotic scenes on the steps of the building in front of tourists visiting St Mary’s Cathedral, and members of the public who attend Limerick City Council offices.
Mayor Kiely, who worked at the former post office from 1976 to 1986 said the building on Henry Street is ideally suited for a courthouse.
“There is a courtyard area in the plans, and it would be ideal for prison vans and patrol cars and it wouldn’t be seen by the general public. “It would solve the problem of the courthouse, once and for all,” he said.
The Mayor said the Office of Public Works should sign contracts with the developer and agree a design brief for a permanent court, not just a temporary facility.
Space in Henry Street Garda Station is at a premium, and Mayor Kiely suggested that the building across the road from the station should house the Traffic Corps and detectives.
I can’t believe this move is being seriously considered, I think it’s a terribly short-sighted decision. Clearly the court needs to be moved away from City Hall but this just isn’t the answer.
The Council are obviously desperate for a solution after the numerous unsavoury incidents that have occurred over the last few years. But have they not considered the consequences of moving this circus right into the centre of town?:rolleyes:
Double blow for Limerick retail projects (Limerick Leader)
By Petula Martyn
MARKS and Spencer will not be the anchor tenant at the Opera Centre after dropping plans to open a store at the city-centre development, according to weekend media reports.
And Limerick has been dealt a further blow with confirmation that construction work on the Parkway Valley project on Dublin Road will not recommence until 2011 at the earliest.Marks & Spencer had been in discussions to acquire one anchor store in Limerick after the British chain was refused planning at the Crescent Shopping Centre which was their preferred location.
The €350 million Opera Centre is owned by developers Jerry O’Reilly, David Courtney and Terry Sweeney, and Anglo Irish Bank has a 50 per cent share in the development. The developers behind the Opera Centre had been seeking to sign 40 retailers to the retail centre over the next two years, and it was hoped that Marks & Spencer, as an anchor tenant, would have been a big draw for other retailers.
The shopping centre on Patrick Street was granted planning permission for a second occasion by An Bord Pleanala in July.
It is not known if the decision by Marks & Spencer to withdraw their interest in the Opera Centre will affect the opening of the shopping centre which is expected to be built by 2012/13.
This story was first carried in yesterday’s Sunday Tribune. I don’t know how reliable these “retail sources” are but if true it would be a pretty odd decision given that the opera centre would seem to be tailor made for Marks & Spencer.
I know that the Crescent shopping centre had to offer fairly generous concessions to get M&S to commit to the planned store there. Maybe those behind the Opera Centre need to sweet talk Marks & Spencer a bit more!
The failure to secure a big name anchor would obviously raise further doubts over the future of this project!
I was out at the Gaelic Grounds today and sadly the two pylons on the open stand side look every bit as ridiculous as we thought they would!:(
I was talking to one of the lads working out there and he agreed that it was “highly unusual” for the pylons to be placed inside the ground but that the Council had left them with little option.
The lights themselves will be switched on for the first time on tuesday. They’ll spend the rest of the week testing and fine tuning the system and they hope to be out of there by next Friday, a week ahead of schedule.
Incidentally, the first game under the new lights should be the County Football Final on October 10th.
Sarsfield Bar to reopen as cultural cafe
By Alan Owens
ONE OF Limerick’s most iconic pubs is to be reopened as a cultural centre, in the short-term at least.
The Sarsfield Bar, or “Spirit Store” as it is also known, lies on the corner of Rutland Street and Bank Place opposite the Hunt Museum.
The landmark pub has lain derelict for years, and in latter years has been earmarked as part of the pending Opera Centre development.However, before that development goes ahead, the bar is to open as a cultural centre for the months of August and September.
The Sarsfield Bar will become the Spirit Store Art Cafe for the next two months, the project being the brainchild of Marlyn Lennon of Limerick School of Art and Design.
A host of diverse cultural activities will take place there, including talks, performances, debates, discussions, screenings, readings and meetings with musicians, writers, visual artists, film makers, collectives and various clubs and societies.
“The idea is that all interested people in Limerick will attend and contribute to this exciting project,” explained local man Paul Tarpey, who is helping to get the project off the ground.
“This inclusive experiment is an open invitation for all of Limerick to experience, absorb and creatively contribute to an exciting project. There will be a collection of diverse cultural activities taking place in the unique environment of a Limerick landmark,” he said.
Mr Tarpey explained that the Spirit Store Art Cafe will “seek to infuse this reclaimed space” with a busy programme of arts activities.
It will open on Sunday, with a preview this Saturday at 5pm.The cafe will be open Tuesday to Sunday, from 12pm “until sunset”. Coffee will be served free or with a donation, but no food will be served.
Nice to see the Sarsfield Bar being brought back to life, if only for a few weeks. It’s criminal that its been allowed to rot away for the last number of years. At this stage, it’s in need of a fairly thorough conservation job!
Also, the article is completely wrong in reporting that the Sarsfield Bar forms part of the Opera Centre. It of course remains independent of that project!:rolleyes:
@Tuborg wrote:
I wonder what “Option 1” for Glover’s Lane is? This is the laneway that separates Rutland Street and Patrick Street. The initial glazed infill solution was pretty dismal, I presume we’ll now see a setback of any new building here?
@CologneMike wrote:
The building line will be set back at the location of Glover’s Lane with access to a department store and signage acknowledging the previous existence of the laneway.
Fair enough!:)
@gunter wrote:
Those are murky waters to be casting a fishing hook into Tuborg!
Probably better just to thank Christ somebody sorted this all out. The (17) conditions look pretty comprehensive to me, . . . . of course it does all hinge on what exactly was submitted on 1 May.
Yeah I’d probably be opening up a serious can of worms there alright. If anything, the mystery surrounding the final decision perfectly encapsulates the uncertainly that has plagued this project since 2005. Its probably a fitting finale really!
Realistically we’ve got as acceptable an outcome as we could have hoped for and Im certainly glad that a decision has finally been made!
CONDITIONS2. The architectural treatment at the junction of Glover’s Lane with Patrick
Street shall be as indicated in the design shown on Douglas Wallace sketch
drawing “Option 1†received by An Bord Pleanála on the 1st May 2009.
Board Direction
Reason: To reflect the historic street pattern of the area.The wording of that condition no. 2 would seem to imply that the applicants submitted several versions of some aspects of the development adopting a ”take your pick” approach. Maybe it could be said that such an approach is lacking in design conviction, but hell, if it works, as it seems to have done here, I don’t know I think I’d be inclined to overlook that 🙂
I wonder what “Option 1” for Glover’s Lane is? This is the laneway that separates Rutland Street and Patrick Street. The initial glazed infill solution was pretty dismal, I presume we’ll now see a setback of any new building here?
So we finally have a decision.
I’ve only had a quick scan through it but its interesting to note that a decision was made on the original (hideous) application on the 4th of February and the inspector recommended a refusal.
If the case was decided, why wasn’t this made public at the time? Did the Bord go back to the applicants and request revised plans or did the applicants themselves decide to submit the new proposals? Whatever happened, these revisions were submitted on May 1st and were subsequently signed off on July 17th.
Have ABP gone about their business in a rather strange manner here or are they perfectly within their rights?
Yeah, a new link road is being built between Cathedral Place and Sexton Street as part of the orbital route, St John’s pavillion is to be demolished to make way for it.
If its “a huge site” as D-A-V-E refers to, then it’s possibly Costelloes yard, which is right beside John’s pavillion. This is the proposed site for the new courts complex but that project is very much in its infancy and there is no guarantee that it will even get off the drawing board. I must take a spin out that direction and have a look for myself!
@D-A-V-E wrote:
whats the story with the proposed cinema over in ballysimon? has that started to be built yet?
It’s been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
De-mountable floodlighting masts would have been an excellent option for the uncovered stand side, although it would be asking far too much for Limerick GAA to come up with such an innovative solution!:rolleyes: The corners of both terrace’s offer some of the best views of the pitch, now they are going to be obscured by these large poles, it’s an absolutely terrible decision.
I would love to know if the opposition from local residents really did have an impact on the positioning of the mast’s. If it did, then I think questions need to be asked of Limerick City Council! I had a look back over the recent planning history of the Gaelic Grounds and its pretty obvious that the local GAA have found it strangely difficult to get planning permission for a variety of applications.
We already know that the initial floodlighting application was shot down last year. Oddly, there were also issues with the re-location of an electronic scoreboard from one end of the ground to the other!:confused: Back in 2002 when the re-development of the GGs was finally given the green light, a key condition stated that non-sporting events would not be permitted at the venue!
Maybe I’m reading too much into this but it seems that while LCC have bent over backwards to facilitate Munster Rugby and Thomond Park, they have been extremely un-accomodating towards Limerick GAA and the Gaelic Grounds. Perhaps its got something to do with the revenue Munster Rugby brings to the city.;)
@gunter wrote:
You sometimes suspect that this is what happens, but unless the Bord actually write to the applicants seeking specific further information, I thought they were precluded from giving tips and pointers!
This could be a genuine change of heart on the part of the developers, or more likely, a bit of belated sound advice from their architects (who are the architects now, do we know? wasn’t it originally Douglas Wallace?).
Apparently the board expressed “serious concerns” about the project a couple of months back and requested “revised drawings”. Presumably this related to the loss of Georgian building stock and probably issues with the Granary aswell.
Its a joke that we cant find out for sure what ABP requested or the exact nature of the revisions. All this information should be available on their website but unfortunately its fairly hopeless!
Thanks for the scan gunter, I didnt see the Times today and couldn’t find it online either.
It looks like Regeneration Developments have finally come to their senses anyway. They’ve amended much of the elements we’ve been banging on about here for ages! Its pretty obvious now that ABP let it be known that the project wouldn’t have had much chance of proceeding in its previous form!
Looking at the details, the retention of additional buildings on Rutland Street/Patrick Street along with the salvation of Ellen Street, are massive improvements. The relocation of the service entrance from Bank Place to Michael Street is also a hugely positive move!
@vkid wrote:
Politics? I doubt the rebels in the peoples republic would be happy for a start. They weren’t exactly impressed with the decision to redevelop Thomond Park but they’d go looney over that suggestion altogether
😀Pairc ui Chaoimh in its current decrepit state, shouldn’t be allowed to host a major game again after the fiasco at the Cork v Tipp game last year.
I’ve always felt that the GAA should prioritise 1 stadium in each province for investment to bring it up to an accepatable standard. In Munster, Pairc na nGael is the most modern and therefore would require less investment than the others. A new main stand and potentially a roof over the open stand would transform it into a very tidy ground. Its also got geography on its side.
However the GAA is far too parochial to make common sense decisions. Semple Stadium in Thurles has the “tradition” which is so highly valued by the association, so it will always be considered the No.2 stadium behind Croke Park and thus the undisputed No.1 in Munster.
@Griff wrote:
It has to be due to planning restrictions – it looks totally unnatural !.. seemingly the ground has never been full since its redevelopment – so that empty spaces will in future be 3 wedges behind the floodlights – the 4th at the city end of the Mackey stand seems ok.
There is a bit of previous for this layout though – Pairc ui Rinn – the first GAA stadium to have floodlights I believe ( naturally – sure its in Cork like) – although the impact is a lot less as the stadium is smaller and the terraces have square ends.Well it was full for last years Munster Final and it should be full again for the International Rules in October. There’s going to be quite a few spectators with restricted views of that game!:rolleyes:
I wouldn’t pay too much attention to Pairc ui Rinn, its only really used as a secondary venue to Pairc ui Chaoimh. I noticed at the weekend that the new lights in Thurles have been installed behind the terracing so as not to obstruct views of the pitch, just as you would expect.
It just makes this decision all the more annoying. It must be some kind of concession to the residents on that side of the ground. Maybe they felt that locating the masts within the stadium would help allay the concerns of locals. Despite the fact that light spillage from modern floods is pretty low.
I think I might fire off an e-mail to Limerick GAA to try and get the definitive reason for this unfortunate decision.
Below: Proposed locations of floodlighting masts.
@Goofy wrote:
Have you seen the plans though. Plans Two of the flood light masts will be in front of the terrace! In the north east and north west corners. The terracing in the corners will now be useless as you wont be able to see the whole pitch. Crazy!
When I first read your post, I thought, surely this couldn’t be true! Astonishingly though, the planning files seem to confirm that pylons are to be placed at the bottom corners of the uncovered stand/terracing!
I honestly cant think of any other ground where this ridiculous arrangement occurs! This is only an assumption but I wonder did the previous refusal have a bearing on the positioning of these masts?
It would be easy to blame Limerick GAA for this monumental cock-up but what the hell were the engineers (Punch & Partners) thinking?:rolleyes:
An Bord Pleanala have given the go ahead for the proposed new co-located private hospital at the Mid Western Regional in Dooradoyle.
@Griff wrote:
Seemingly there are plans to knock and replace the stand in the Gaelic grounds with something ‘decent’.. it took a long time to get planning for the floodlights so it’ll be a few years yet before we’ll see a new stand.
Its certainly the first I’ve heard of this anyway. I cant imagine where they would find the finances to fund such a project, maybe JP McManus is feeling generous again!
It would be great if it was true though, the existing Mackey stand is nothing short of an embarassment. Unfortunately its going to be seen by a large tv audience in Australia this October aswell!:o
@Griff wrote:
I assume its safe to say this site will never be finished by Dannigers.. its going to be the most awful eyesore – and I bet theres no way they can be legally forced to level/clean up the site ? A good solution perhaps would be to close the old parkway SC (taking some of the load off the roundabout) and transfer into the Parkway Valley site. The biggest change this region needs is a boundary extension to prevent any more of these ludicrous out of town developments..
The parkway is one area where the tug of war between the City and County Council’s is most apparent, its home to some of the worst planning imaginable! Its a case of how much inappropriate development can each side cram in?
I can’t say Im unhappy that Parkway Valley isnt going ahead. The reality is that the area just wouldn’t be able to handle the extra traffic volumes without major infrastructural improvements. Of course, it was an absolute disgrace that it got permission in the first place but we all know the reasons behind it!:rolleyes:
On another note. I wonder is there any way the Council can force the developers to deliver the promised improvements to the Childers Road?
@D-A-V-E wrote:
i passed the gaelic grounds yesterday, they seemed to be doing a lot of digging around there..it wouldnt have anything to do with the new floodlights would it? i know they are going to have floodlights for the international rules test in october
Yeah its the floodlights alright, work started on site last week. I think they’re planning to stage 1 of this years County Finals under the lights as a test run before the International Rules.
An update on the stalled Parkway Valley project.
‘Major jobs blow’ at Parkway Valley development (Limerick Leader)
By Nick Rabbitts
ALMOST 300 skilled construction workers look likely to remain out of work after a petition was lodged in the High Court to recover money from the developers behind the multi-million-euro Parkway Valley project.
The huge Dublin Road development began slowing to a halt last August, following the builders’ holiday. Now, Dublin firm Deepdrill Developments has applied to the High Court for the liquidation of Danningers, the main operating company of Ireland’s biggest developer, Liam Carroll. The case is expected to be heard next Monday.SIPTU believe that the Parkway Valley development, on which work ceased in November after a skeleton staff had operated for some months, will be a casualty of the court action and is expected to impact on up to 300 builders promised work – as well many more potential retail jobs.
Assistant SIPTU organiser Mark Quinn told the Limerick Leader: “It’s a major blow to the construction industry within the region. There are 300 jobs affected by the shut down of this site, and there has been basically no response from Danningers confirming the same – even though we have contacted them on several occasions.
“It’s a massive blow to employees who have been left in limbo for so long as to what’s happened. But there is very little you can do in relation to the project as its a private entity.
“We would like some clarification from Danningers in relation to who the clients are and why the project could not be continued. The region needs to have an answer to what is potentially going to be an eyesore.”
A part of the neighbouring Childers’ Road was to be widened to facilitate the shopping centre. This is also now unlikely to happen, something which has led city councillor Kieran O’Hanlon to call for developers to put money forward to facilitate planning gain.
“Some of this money should have been paid up front when planning permission was given.
“This is our city and we just cannot have derelict sites,” he said, adding: “It’s the tail end of the Celtic Tiger when you see this. It would have been great for the local building sector. I really don’t know what’s going to happen with these buildings, as we have sites which are half-abandoned in Rhebogue as well. Its an issue I will be taking up with the City Council.”
The development, originally given the go-ahead in 2005, promised “iconic surroundings” and “dynamic shopping” with more than 47,000 square meters in retail space. It was expected to welcome its first customers this year.
Earlier this week, the Construction Industry Federation warned that as many as 12,500 jobs could be lost in this region alone as the global recession takes hold.
Danningers declined to comment.
@Griff wrote:
Was it the city council that refused permission for a cinema at Coonagh ?.. building one on the Tipperary rd is crazy. Limerick is roughly T shaped , 2 ends of the T ( C’Troy and Raheen) already have cinemas. The best location for a new cinema out of town would have been Coonagh. But the real issue is that there is no cinema in the heart of the city.. So next year,people sitting at home in Castletroy will think – will i drive 6 minutes to the Tipp rd cinema or 5 minutes to the one at Superquin…hmmmmm Rio’s chips on the way home maybe..
The City Council refused permission for the cinema at Coonagh Cross on the basis that the city centre was a more preferable location for such a development. I have no doubt that had this area been under their jurisdiction, the current proposal would also have been turned down.
Having 3 cinema’s in relatively close proximity to each other on the southside of the city is absolutely ridiculous! You could possibly make a case for a cinema on the northside but then again this would more than likely render a city centre complex unviable! I dont really think there is a market for 4 cinema’s in Limerick.
This proposed project in Ballysimon will have 9 screens and is located behind the new medical centre on the Castletroy link road, just off the Garryglass roundabout.
082034
Parkes Property Holdings Ltd
Permission for a leisure facility consisting of bowling facilities, cinemas, games areas and associated bars, cafe, foyer services and retail areas.
Towlerton, Ballysimon
