New Carlow community hub will ‘change the whole world’ for local residents

A new community hub in Carlow town that is currently under construction will “change the whole world” for local residents, a council meeting has heard.

The Tullow Road Multi-Functional Community Hub was discussed in detail at the January meeting of the Carlow Municipal District.

The building is set to be occupied by Carlow Regional Youth Services and will contain a wide range of facilities, such as community halls, multi-functional rooms and a café.

Barry Knowles, Senior Executive Officer at Carlow County Council, told the meeting that “everything is going well” on the construction site.

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Construction of the facility began last June and has a projected completion date of June 3 of this year.

However, Mr Knowles expressed some doubts that construction will be completed on time.

He stated: “One of things at the moment, I was saying the projected finish date is June 3 but if you look out the window here, the weather isn’t helping some of the progress on site.

“So hopefully fingers crossed the weather improves and things will be progressing along nicely in relation to the community centre.”

The Mayor of Carlow, Cllr Paul Doogue, welcomed the development, describing it as “just fantastic”. He added that the facility will “change the whole world up there”.

Mayor Doogue congratulated the engineering department on the progress being made whilst acknowledging that there is “huge work to be done” this year.

Mr Knowles also presented the council’s Tullow Road Masterplan at the meeting. This outlines a “sustainable vision” for infrastructure development in the area.

It aims to focus on community needs, improved accessibility and enhanced recreational spaces to “foster community engagement and well-being” for local residents.

Mr Knowles said: “In relation to the Tullow Road area, we obviously have the great news that the community centre is being constructed up there but we are also looking at a masterplan for the area as well.

“We’re looking at various opportunities such as maybe a family resource centre and a childcare facility beside the community centre.

“Then on the opposite side of that, we’re looking at maybe a park, an amenity area there as well and then we’re looking at sports pitches.”

However, he informed members that these plans are subject to funding being received from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Fianna Fáil councillor Fintan Phelan welcomed the plan saying it was “great to see” the progress being made.

These sentiments were echoed by People Before Profit-Solidarity councillor Adrienne Wallace.

However, Cllr Wallace added that another bus stop should be considered as part of the plan.

She said: “Obviously it’s an issue for the NTA but if we could at least provide a possible location in and around the community centre where the bus could stop and turn.

“From the back of The Laurels or Burrin Manor onto the Tullow Road, it’s a long walk, particularly if you have kids hanging off you, to try and get the bus, so just to keep in mind maybe as plans are progressing.”

Meanwhile, Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne highlighted the need for a second access road in the area.

Cllr Browne said: “One thing we do need on Tullow Road and I’m disappointed I don’t see it on your slide is extra roads.

“We’ve only got one road going into Tullow Road currently. Huge area of the town, big population and I certainly see great scope for a new road to the left of the community centre.

“It would make a huge difference in that area so maybe liaise with Pádraig O’Gorman and Orla Barrett and a few more in that regard.

“The Tullow Road, we definitely do need extra roads out there, it could even be non-vehicle roads but we certainly need extra access points in that area.”

In response, Director of Services Pádraig O’Gorman said that there have been plans for a second road in the area for many years.

Mr O’Gorman said: “Just on the roads access issue, members will know it’s a long-time objective to create another second access for the Tullow Road area.

“Our own preference is that that [road] wouldn’t be out onto the Wexford Road.

“So we’ve been liaising with the Department [of Transport] last year in relation to accessing funding to do a feasibility study on the best route to come out onto the Eire Óg side, if you want to call it that, or the west side of the community hub that you’re talking about.”

He went on to outline the engagement the council has had with the Department thus far and the next steps it will look to take.

“We’ve provisionally identified three possible routes where we could connect into the existing network of the houses that are in there.

“We made an application to the Department in our annual submission for this year and we’re awaiting that.

“It should be with us in the next week or two and hopefully we’ll have funding to procure and appoint a consultant to look at determining the optimum route selection for a new road into that area.

“So we have been working on it and we have it with the Department. Hopefully we get funding to look at it in our allocation that we’ll have shortly.”

In response, Cllr Browne said: “I think there is great scope for an inner road irrespective of the plans you’re doing as well.”

He agreed with Cllr Wallace in calling for another bus stop in the area, also highlighting the long walk to the current bus stop for some residents.

Cllr Browne concluded the discussion by saying that a new road “needs to be prioritised”.