Motion to turn historic Mayo hotel into civic offices is passed

A MOTION calling for the former Imperial Hotel in Castlebar to be developed as civic offices and administrative buildings for the Castlebar Municipal District (MD) has been passed.

Independent Councillor Harry Barrett saw his civic offices proposal adopted with support from Councillors Blackie Gavin and Michael Kilcoyne at the monthly MD meeting.

Cathaoirleach Councillor Donna Sheridan, who voiced fears that UDRF funding which is earmarked for an innovation hub could be lost, and Ger Deere voted against, with Councillors Cyril Burke and Al McDonnell not present when the vote was taken, having to leave the meeting early.

Before leaving, Councillor Burke said he agreed with a lot of what Councillor Barrett had to say, but a proposal from an interested party in relation to it operating as a hotel was to come before them in October, he understood, and he suggested they wait and exhaust that.

The town needs a hotel, he stated.

Councillor Al McDonnell wanted to see the doors open and if the Barrett proposal could be funded, he was supportive. It was a disgrace how the building has been allowed to decay under public ownership, he said.

Councillor Barrett pointed to Castlebar's future population increase and how council staff currently work in cramped conditions.

There was no sense of the area in the MD meeting room, he said.

Developing proper civic offices and admin space would bring confidence back to the town, to show that Castlebar is moving.

A return to Marsh House when it is vacated by the Educate Together NS was suggested by Councillor Deere.

The majority of the public wished to see the Imperial reopen as a hotel, he said, and he suggested they wait to see the outcome in October, when they would have more clarity.

Support for the motion came from Councillor Kilcoyne who said they were being treated as second class citizens. The West Mayo District had two offices, in Westport and Belmullet, and Claremorris MD has three - Claremorris, Ballinrobe and Swinford.

The point was made by Councillor Sheridan that the money for the Imperial cannot be used for civic offices, which MD head David Mellett reiterated: Civic offices would have to be funded by the council.

He agreed with the point that the MD needs a stronger identity.

Director of services John Condon also pointed out that they did not have the money to implement the motion.

Councillor Barrett argued that they needed to be more ambitious for Castlebar. They should ask the minister for funding for the offices, saying a hotel would not work as people want leisure facilities and there's also no parking.

The needs of the town trump economics, he stated.

Ultimately the motion was passed by three votes to two.