MITCHELSTOWN YOUTH CAFE OFFERED SPACE AT LEISURE CENTRE... FOR 250K!
The Mitchelstown Youth Group can have a dedicated space at the proposed new leisure centre for a youth cafe…but it will, it is alleged, cost them €250,000.
The long awaited and at times controversial leisure centre planned for Mitchelstown is currently awaiting planning permission before the construction of the facility at the Canon’s Field can begin.
However, Minister Sean Sherlock has called the alleged decision by the leisure centre committee to request a quarter of a million euros from the local youth group as ludicrous.
“I think it is ludicrous that any voluntary body would seek to ask another voluntary body in the town of Mitchelstown for such a large amount of cash before they will provide a service to the community.
"I don’t understand the company structures that the Mitchelstown Leisure Centre committee operates under and this needs to be explained as a matter of urgency. I fully support the Mitchelstown Youth Cafe and I am at pains to understand some of the structures that are in place and that the leisure committee operates under.”
“I believe that the request made by the youth cafe for a dedicated area at the proposed new Mitchelstown Leisure Centre is not unreasonable and would fall within the remit of any voluntary organization, such as the leisure centre group, which we must remember has been funded by the community.
"However, to require such a sum of money from an organization that is working hard for the young people of Mitchelstown is beyond belief,” Deputy Sherlock told The Avondhu.
The Avondhu emailed the Minister’s concerns to the chairman of the leisure centre committee Mr Ben Lynch but did not receive a reply before going to press.
While the status of the planning application for the leisure centre is flagged as ‘awaiting further information’ on Cork County Council’s planning website, The Avondhu has learned that there are 18 issues outstanding which need to be addressed before the application can continue to the next phase of the planning process.
Published:
Thursday 19th May 6:23pm
