Escalating construction costs impact Longford regeneration project

Director of Services for Planning, Regeneration and Capital Projects, John Brannigan, told the March meeting of Longford County Council that work on The Royal Canal Gateway Project is continuing.

The plans were put out to tender over a year ago to link the town centre with the Royal Canal greenway, but at the meeting Cllr Gerry Warnock (Ind) said: “I have lost the warm fuzzy feeling about this project.”

Cllr Warnock expressed concerns over “a lack of progression” on the delivery of The Royal Canal Gateway Project at the rear of Market Square in Longford Town. He said assurances from council management that the project would be prioritised for commencement have not come to pass.

“I am seriously concerned over the lack of progress,” said Cllr Warnock, “I took people at their word that we would hit the ground running in Q1 of this year and here we are in the third month of Q1 and zero progression from what I can see.

“I’m not a person who “looks for ghosts behind doors” but I’m beginning to seriously question what the hell is going on.

“Why are we constantly running into walls when it comes to progressing projects in our county town while it appears seamless in other parts of the county, particularly in the south of the county? What I’m asking now is if there is a danger that this project might not be delivered?”

Responding to the query the Director of Services for Planning, Regeneration and Capital Projects, John Brannigan, assured members the challenges around costs would not result in the shelving of the project.

Mr Brannigan said the council are working to resolve the issues causing the delay: “The work on The Market Square has continued since this was raised at the end of last year, and into 2023. There is no plan to shelve it, but we just need to acknowledge that there is some work that needs to be done in that area.”

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Warnock said that he was satisfied “for now” with the response, but stressed he will continue to raise the issue: “Longford County Council has secured €725K from Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism together with committing to providing a further €450k from their own resources as matched funding, to bring the total investment to nearly €1.2m to deliver this for the people of Longford Town.

“It would reflect very badly indeed on the Management of Longford County Council if we had to return this capital because of procrastination and indecision, as a matter of fact it would be inconceivable.”

Works undertaken as part of the Longford Connected Public Realm Enhancement Project (LCPREP) include the enhancements to Market Square and Longford Shopping Centre as focal points within Longford Town.