FINE Gael councillor Sarah Kiely wants the Council to take the bull by the horns and demand action on the CIE Sports and Social Club site on Carey’s Road.
Cllr Kiely moved at this month’s Metropolitan District meeting that Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) write to the CEO of Irish Rail to formally request that the CIE site on Carey’s Road be considered for “meanwhile use”, pending a final decision and action in relation to the redevelopment of this site.
“Meanwhile use”, she explained, refers to the temporary utilisation of vacant or underused properties before they are permanently redeveloped.
Cllr Kiely said that “many councillors in this chamber have highlighted the CIE Club over the years. It is now time we took the bull by the horns and demand action on this site.”
She also lamented the lack of movement at the former Guinness Site, which she said “the LDA have yet to lodge a planning permission” on.
Cllr Kiely went on to proffer the ‘meanwhile use’ model as a “regeneration tool”, the benefits of which include “reducing the blight of vacant buildings, supporting community initiatives, fostering local businesses, and testing potential long-term uses of the space”.
She said such use could facilitate pop-up shops and markets, community spaces for art galleries or artists studios, performance venues, or urban agriculture.
“Meanwhile spaces can be converted into community gardens or urban farms, especially in cities where green space is tight,” she told the Council chamber.
“The Carey’s Road site could be used for this. Previously St Saviours had raised beds here and had lots of work put into the area. This was taken away by CIE a number of years ago, unfortunately.”
She held her belief that “meanwhile uses can be important in Limerick”, stating that “due to the lengthy processes often involved in planning and development, this can assist with bringing spaces and buildings back into use. They offer a flexible solution that benefits communities, local economies, and property owners.”
