Tipperary County Council disposes of Suir Island site to Clonmel Scouts Group
Tipperary county councillors have approved the disposal of a portion of the enclosed yard/depot next to Suir Island Gardens by way of a 999-year lease
Tipperary County Council's elected members have given the green light for disposal of part of an enclosed yard on Clonmel’s Suir Island to Clonmel Scouts Group, which plans to use it for outdoor and river-based activities for its members.
The Council's proposal to dispose of a portion of the yard/depot property next to Suir Island Gardens by way of a 999-year lease to Clonmel Group Scouting Ireland was approved at Tipperary County Council's June meeting in Clonmel last week.
Clonmel Cllr Siobhán Ambrose formally proposed the site's disposal under Section 183 of the 2001 Local Government Act and Newcastle Independent Cllr Mairín McGrath seconded.
Mayor of Clonmel Cllr Pat English, who is a leader with Clonmel Scouts Group, absented himself from the council meeting for the Section 183 disposal due to a conflict of interest.
A report prepared for councillors about the site detailed how the Council recently acquired it from Quality Recycling Ltd. as part of the local authority's wider objective to support tourism, recreation and community development associated with the River Suir and Suir Island Masterplan.
“The site is proposed to support complementary recreational and tourism-related uses including water-based leisure activities, bicycle hire/storage and associated outdoor recreation infrastructure linked to the Suir Blueway and Suir Island amenities.
Clonmel Scouts will have exclusive rights to the part of the site it is leasing and shared rights with Tipperary County Council with the rest of the site.
The lease agreement involves a once-off payment of €40,000 and a nominal rent of €1 per annum if demanded.
“The area will be used to support scouting, outdoor education, water-based activities and associated community uses,” the report outlined.
The report continued that the disposal of the proposed is considered by the Council to represent a “long-term community benefit, supporting youth development, recreation and the continued activation of the Suir Island area in line with the objectives of the Clonmel Town Centre First Plan and wider Suir Island Masterplan”.
It added that the remaining portion of the site will remain in the ownership of Tipperary County Council for tourism, recreation and associated purposes.