Concerns raised by councillors over cost of turning former Cork town hall into arts hub
Concerns have been raised by some councillors about the cost of turning a former town hall into an arts hub.
Plans have been drawn up by Cork County Council to turn the former town hall in Mallow into an arts hub for the North Cork region and local councillors were shown a preliminary design by the council's executive architect, Billy Smyth.
It was during the course of his presentation to the Kanurk/Mallow Municipal District Council it was revealed the cost could be in the region of €5m.
Cllr Melissa Mullane said she recognised it was an old building and would be costly to refurbish, but thought the price tag was “a bit excessive”.
Cllr Timmy Collins agreed with her. "I don't want it to end up like the children's hospital (overrun),” he said.
Mr Smyth said final costings wouldn't be available until consultants, who are to be appointed in the next couple of weeks, had come up with the final design.
Cllr Collins said that when this is completed councillors should be given a breakdown of the costs.
Mr Smyth said the building was a protected structure and similar projects had cost around the same figure that had been estimated.
He said a brief had been put together for consultants and a planning application is expected to be lodged in June.
Mr Smyth said it's hoped to tender the main works contract in early January next year.
Under the outline plans the ground floor will contain a studio, which will have multiple uses, a backstage area and ticket office.
On the first floor there will be gallery space, an auditorium, bar and toilets. The top floor will include a foyer and Local Enterprise Office.
Mr Smyth said that public consultation will take place over a three month period and that the council believed the building would also become a central hub for the town.
Cllr John Paul O'Shea said this should not just be confined to local arts groups and that arts groups from all over the north Cork should be invited to have an input into this process.
He pointed out that the local tourist office was also housed in the building and wanted it retained there because it was such a central location.
Cllr Gearoid Murphy said a tourist officer should also be appointed to promote the town and arts and heritage in general.
This is very welcome as the town hall has been underutilised for years.
"It's great that there will be rooms for community groups as it's often commented there are none available for them in the town centre,” Cllr Murphy said.
The council's senior executive officer, Mary Hayes, said there were a number of different funding streams the council would seek for the redevelopment.
