Anger in Granard as north Longford town faces another Christmas with no car park

Granard is to face yet another Christmas without a proper off-road car park due to circumstances that have delayed the works.
Cllr PJ Reilly, speaking at the recent meeting of Granard Municipal District, expressed his disappointment at the delay in the construction of the proposed parking facility beside Granard Garda Station.

“We were told it would be started by September and finished by Christmas but now we’re facing another Christmas with no car park in Granard,” he said.

“We were promised this would be started in September and now it’s going to be put back at least another six months or more.”

The delay is due to the unexpected need for an archaeological report, which has seen the project postponed by several months.

“It’s not fair to people or the community trying to do their shopping. Main Street builds up very quickly. If this car park was properly finished, it would take about 40 cars,” said Cllr Reilly.

Area Engineer David Coppinger said he shares the disappointment of the elected members but stressed that the delay is due to circumstances that are out of his control.

“I did say that we would be starting in September. Unfortunately resources is an issue. We depended on road design to do the part eight for us. They just didn’t have the resources,” he said.

“This thing with the archaeology that has come up was out of the blue for me. I honestly did not expect that but it's the Department of Local Government and Heritage, so I have no choice. I have to comply with it.

“We will get an archaeological report done as quickly as possible and we hope to start that car park in the springtime. And I would hope - I’m saying ‘hope’ because I can’t guarantee it - that this will be the last Christmas that you won’t have a car park up there.”

Cllr Turlough McGovern said he could “feel PJ’s anger over it” but accepted Mr Coppinger’s explanation regarding the circumstances of the delay.

“This issue that popped up, you weren’t expecting it and it’s not your fault and we look forward to getting it done in the spring,” he said to Mr Coppinger.