Tipperary councillors give green light for major development of former cinema in this town

Nenagh Municipal District Council has passed the Part 8 chief executive’s report into the planned development of the former Rialto cinema in Nenagh despite some councillors having concerns over the plans.

The Council is aiming to turn the site on Banba Square into a innovation and enterprise centre, a switch from its original intention to locate a digital hub in the building.

District administrator Rosemary Joyce outlined six submissions they had received on the proposals, along with the Council’s responses.

Among the submissions were concerns over properties adjoining the site not being able to clean their gutters, the location of a proposed bicycle parking stand, space required by community groups, a fear that the new centre would be in conflict with a business already operating in the town and a submission from Uisce Éireann.

However, when the chief executive’s report came before the district council last Thursday, Cllr Hughie McGrath raised concerns over the houses adjoining the site to be able to clean their gutters.

He acknowledged that the submission was outside of the Part 8, but warned that the residents needed written agreement that they could access their gutters.

He also pointed out that the location for the bicycle stand was up against the kitchen window of a house, and that the submission by the community group was having a “hugely positive” impact in the town.

Cllr McGrath said he had already raised the issue of maintaining a Garda presence in the town and pointed out that the Garda station on Banba Square had no room.

"I see how crowded the Garda station is and yet there is no submission from the OPW. We are locking the station into the amount of ground they have,” he said.

Cllr McGrath was worried that the Gardaí would say they have no room and move the District to Thurles.

He also feared that the time for an enterprise centre / digital hub had “come and gone”.

Cllr Seamus Morris also said he was not certain about using it as a digital hub.

“I haven’t seen a business plan to say a digital hub would work,” he said, pointing out that the occupancy rate for hubs in Tipperary was just 33%.

“I’m not feeling it about the digital hub. I am sceptical about it,” he said.

However Cllr John Carroll, while having concerns about the footfall that would come out of the centre, said he was supportive of the project.

“It is an innovative project that will enhance the business and commercial life of the town,” he said.

Cllr Joe Hannigan also supported the project saying: “It will be a challenge to make it work but it will be a boost to the town.”
ambitious project

While Cllr Michael O’Meara thought it was one of the most ambitious projects ever for the town, he, too, had concerns around the Garda station and the lack of space for a community market.

“The race has been run on hotdesks,” he said. “I don’t think people are going to take hotdesks there.”

The notion of a digital hub and hotdesks was also questioned by Cllr Ger Darcy.

“I want to see it going ahead, but I want to see it done right,” said Cllr Darcy.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield pointed out that there was “nothing to stop the OPW taking a spot down the road”.

District Cathaoirleach Cllr John McGrath said that it was important that word got out that while this was a “serious project” for Nenagh, the Council was not neglecting the rest of the county.

District manager Marcus O’Connor pointed out that the building had not been used as a performance space for 40 to 50 years.
“If the Council hadn’t bought it it would still be derelict,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said the question was how would the Council reposition the building to get activity back in there.

He saw room in the building for start-ups as the pendulum had “swung away from hotdesks”.

He said flexibility would be the key with different sized desk areas to suit different requirements.

“I feel the business case does stack up,” he said. “I feel it will bring life back into that part of the town as up to 100 people could be working there.”

District administrator Rosemary Joyce said the Council was in discussions with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to develop it as a business and enterprise centre and not as a digital hub.

She believed the development would not have any impact on cleaning gutters of adjacent houses.

Ms Joyce also pointed out that the Council could seek funding for an enterprise centre but not to support a community organisation.

“We believe we can address concerns. There is an awful lot happening in Nenagh and it is important to keep it vibrant,” she said.

District engineer Barry Murphy pointed out that the project would take several years to develop and it was important that the Council took the first steps in applying for funding.

The report was proposed by Cllr Morris and seconded by Cllr Carroll.