Killarney set for multi-million investment in public projects
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Killarney looks set for millions of euros in investment, with plans for a primary care centre and theatre at Lewis Rd, along with a separate multi-storey municipal car park and other works finally being advanced, a meeting has been told.
Two of the key projects — a multi-storey car park at New St and a theatre and primary care centre — are to go to planning shortly.
A multi-storey car park for Killarney was first put forward more than 20 years ago. That proposal for the town-centre Glebe car park was rejected because of underlying ground conditions.
A subsequent proposal 17 years ago for a multi-storey at New St did not advance either.
However, New St is again the choice of planners, a special meeting has been told, after an internal council assessment of each of Killarney's public car parks.
The new three-floor facility at Lower New St/Beech Rd will yield 516 car spaces — 297 more spaces than the existing surface parking on the Lower New St/Beech Rd car park, it is expected.
Among the criteria were access, traffic congestion, safety, separation from other buildings, and building height.
Independent Councillor Niall O’Callaghan urged the council to carry out a ground survey.
Twenty years ago the Glebe site was rejected because of the underlying marsh/bog ground conditions, he said. It was well known that a number of streams, including the Folly, run underneath New St and he urged that extensive surveys be carried out.
Some €12.7m will be the estimated cost of the New St multi-storey, councillors were told.
Multi-storey car parks at other locations were ruled out largely because of access, and a multi-storey car park alongside St Mary’s Cathedral “would not be appropriate on this site, given the surrounding historical and architectural buildings", it was decided, following advice from the conservation officer.
Meanwhile, planning approval is to proceed for a 300-seat theatre, public realm and plaza, and primary care centre at the Áras Phádraig site at Lewis Rd. Some €21.4m — 75% of it from Urban Renewal Development Funding for this and other public realm works — has been approved. The HSE is also to invest heavily in the project.
The site and its existing theatre and meeting rooms were donated to the council by the adjoining Franciscan community in 2009. It has lain empty for some years.
Engineer David Doyle has been appointed to oversee the Lewis Rd project and planning is to be progressed, the meeting was told.
A number of streets/areas including some of the town’s laneways are to form part of the urban renewal plans for both retail and residential regeneration under the URDF funding, it is expected.