Council approves land sale on Green Road to Shaws
Shaws Department Store, Tullow Street, Carlow Image courtesy of Facebook
CARLOW County Council has approved the sale of a plot of land it owns on Green Road, Carlow to Shaws, owners of Shaws Department Stores.
The site being sold is located between the famine graveyard and a warehouse that is already owned by Shaws. The site is to be sold for €150,000.
The sale was voted on at September’s Carlow town municipal district meeting. Cllrs Adrienne Wallace and John Cassin voiced opposition to the sale, though the majority of councillors did approve it.
Cllr Wallace laid out her opposition to the sale when she said that the land was “earmarked for social housing,” but was then deemed not suitable. She said that she had previously asked for a report as to why the site was not suitable, but the report had never been given to her.
“I can’t back the disposal of this land to Shaws. Also, €150,000 is incredibly cheap in my opinion for a site like this. I would like this postponed until the report identifying why social housing is unsustainable for that site is published to councillors,” cllr Wallace said.
In response, mayor of Carlow, cllr Ken Murnane acknowledged cllr Wallace’s perspective but argued that “we need to promote businesses. There is (other) land where houses can be built”.
“Mayor, we’re so deserted of land in the town,” cllr Wallace replied.
Paula O’Brien, a director of services whose remit includes housing, said that the council is looking at developing a number of sites in the town.
Cllr Murnane reminded the meeting that the site of the old Dooley Motors garage on Court Place is going to be developed and that the council is looking at nearly four acres of land elsewhere in the town.
“And even with all those houses being built tomorrow, it still won’t be enough to clear the housing list,” cllr Wallace said. She suggested that Shaws purchase other land privately.
Cllr Cassin asked the meeting what archaeological investigations had been done on the site as it is next to where the Carlow workhouse once stood. He also expressed frustration that a decade ago the scouts were denied the opportunity to lease the land as it was deemed strategic at the time. Since then, the structure that stood on the site collapsed.
Cllr Ken Murnane asked for cllr Wallace to be given the report as to why the land was deemed unsuitable for social housing.
Speaking at the meeting in favour of the sale, cllr Fintan Phelan said: “I am happy with it. I think it’s good for the town, good for the site. I think Shaws will bring employment into that area. They are beside it and want to expand. I think that’s very welcome.” While a majority of Carlow town municipal district councillors voted in favour of the sale, the decision rests with the full county council and will be discussed when it next meets.
