Setting the record straight: the facts on the Providers sale
“A security deposit has been paid, the sale has been agreed, and contracts will be exchanged shortly”
A meeting of Longford County Council has been given a progress update on the sale of the council-owned Provider’s building in Longford town following the May 5 approval of its sale to Dr Neil Healy, a GP and managing director of the Bellview Clinical Group.
Dr Healy is understood to be planning to convert the building into a medical facility complete with consultation rooms and a dedicated research space.
Speaking at the council meeting last Wednesday, Deputy Chief Executive, John Brannigan, confirmed the sale of the building had been agreed by the council and that contracts were due to be exchanged.
Mr Brannigan also told the chamber the development would help transform the northern end of the town. “At this stage, getting a medical facility into the town centre will improve the footfall in the northern end of Longford Town which has been somewhat neglected over the years.”
“With the restoration of the Sean Connolly Barracks too, it will transform that end of the town. It certainly needs further enhancement works and we have sought funding for the improvement of the footpaths within the area. That's pending a decision from central government.”
In addressing the chamber, Mr Brannigan acknowledged a previous offer received by the council for the property, and commended the members for their decision to reject it in favour of holding out for a proposal that would be a more suitable fit for the town.
“It was the right thing not to proceed and accept that offer,” Mr Brannigan said of the offer.
“And again, just going back to the issue of acknowledging the brave decision by the council members and particularly Gerry (Hagan), you were very vocal at the time that we should wait and hold onto the unit to get professional people into the centre of Longford town.”
Mr Brannigan was widely praised by the councillors for having brought the proposal to fruition with all thanking him for his “phenomenal work” on what looks set to be one of Longford’s top commercial success stories.
Speaking about the facility itself, which will be Cllr Gerry Hagan, “I'm delighted and excited to see that a medical facility is going to be in situ hopefully within the next 12 months, which will give a lot of employment and bring more business to our businesses within the town and surrounds.”
“It's a badly needed facility in the town given that GP and dentists lists are full. Hopefully there'll be extra machines in this facility as well, which will also help to meet the medical needs of our population in Longford.
Cllr Peggy Nolan – who had originally proposed the sale of the building to Dr Healy - agreed that prior to the approval of the sale, the Providers site had become a source of concern and uncertainty for council members.
“We worried and lost sleep over what in the name of God was going to happen with Providers,” she said. “At one stage, I think we were nearly all of one mind that we should get a wrecking ball and knock it, but you persisted, John (Brannigan), you were so professional and never gave up.”
Cllr Nolan added, “I concur what my colleague has said. I travelled to Dublin yesterday by train and I'd say there was at least 20 people from Longford that I was talking to who were going up to see consultants and for hospital appointments.”
“I'm hoping the HSE will see the benefit of the decision we made in providing consultants in Longford and that they will look at purchasing some of the services in that building. The footfall should be huge. The potential is unbelievable.”
Cllr Seamus Butler praised the variety of services that Longford would be in a position to offer.
"I think this is about a confluence in Longford and I also understand there's a planning application for a health centre further down, which will also reflect the services that we can offer in this town. We even have a full orthodontic facility on Dublin Street.”
“A lot of people don't realise that, and previously had to travel to Dublin or Galway, and for some people, even to the north, to get work done. That can all be done in Longford. When people are prepared to come in and invest, then it can only be a positive thing.”
In the days following the council meeting, allegations began to circulate on social media that no formal contract had been set in place for the sale.
A security deposit has been paid, the sale has been agreed, and contracts are expected to be exchanged shortly. As with any property transaction, there is a legal process that must be followed. Solicitors are involved, contracts have to be finalised, and these matters can often take weeks or months to complete. That is entirely normal and should not be misrepresented as a lack of progress
Cllr Hussey added, “There will also be conditions and timelines attached to the delivery of the project, ensuring that there is a clear pathway forward once the sale is completed. For years, people have been calling for this building to be brought back into use and for progress to be made.”
“Now that significant progress has been achieved, I believe the focus should be on supporting the project and looking at the benefits it can bring to the town rather than creating unnecessary negativity.”
He continued, “I think it is important that people understand that a market valuation is exactly that, a valuation. In any property transaction, whether it is a family home, a commercial premises or a strategic town-centre building, the final purchase price is determined by the market.”
“Where there is interest from more than one party, competitive bidding can occur, and purchasers may have to increase their offer to secure the property. That is how property transactions work every day across the country.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme