QUESTIONS regarding plans for the substantial landbank owned by Limerick City Council in the Carey’s Road/Hyde Road area are waiting on answers from City Hall. Labour councillor for the area, Joe Leddin reminded a meeting of the city council that the council is the owner of “a couple of blocks of flats, that originally were to be demolished. “We also own the former Guinness building and purchased land from Bus Eireann – could we councillors please be supplied with a draft plan for this pivotal city centre area
– I don’t want to see further money being spent on upgrading the apartment blocks as this is a strategic location for which we do not yet have a strategic plan.
“This is a very valuable site, located alongside the train and bus stations, opposite the magnificent People’s Park and wonderfully refurbished City Gallery of Art, the Belltable Arts Centre, and close to the enhanced riverside walks, not to mention the successfully upgraded William Street and of course the Milk Market.”
Cllr Pat Kennedy reminded the meeting that two years ago he recommended a comprehensive redevelopment of the Carey’s Road/Hyde Road site.
“We voted to go for a local area plan which would be the first such for the city but I‘m disappointed that the officials took a different view even though area plans are working very well in other areas of the country.’
Sharing his colleagues views, Cllr Maurice Quinlivan urged that the apartment blocks be demolished.
Calling for an early update on the planned redevelopment of Nicholas Street, Cllr Quinlivan said that should the Park Valley development on the Dublin Road go ahead, it would be detrimental to the city.
“We desperately need increased footfall in the city but the absence of a Marks and Spencers Store is not helping – yet even Clonmel, which is just a town, compared to Limerick, has an M & S Store – however, I believe they are actively considering coming to Limerick and we should be doing everything feasible to secure a store for the city – we should energetically pursue this to support our retailers.”
Director of Services, Caroline Curley said that draft plans for the Carey’s Road/Hyde Road area will be supplied to the councillors shortly.
“We are working, in co-operation with Shannon Development and the Umbrella Group on plans for Nicholas Street and King’s Island.
Pointing out that while two of the three blocks of flats in Carey’s Road had been vacated by residents who were successfully relocated, City Hall executive, Kieran Lehane, said that there are still some tenants occupying the third block of flats.
“The flats had to be vacated because they were past their useful lives”.
