Council urged to explore Milford Hotel purchase as scheme deadline looms

Donegal County Council is being urged to explore the possible purchase of the old Milford Hotel.

The Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Liam Blaney, has asked the local authority to explore all opportunities in relation to the site in Milford town centre.

In a motion to the April meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Councillor Blaney asked that the Council make an application to purchase the Milford Hotel site or the Milford Bakery site under the 2023 Building Acquisition Measure.

Purchase of the former Milford Bakery is not possible under the scheme as the site has been taken off the market. To qualify, a site has to be currently up for sale.

However, Councillor Blaney believes now is a suitable time for the Council to examine its options in relation to the Milford Hotel.

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“It is one of the most prominent and best sites in the town,” Councillor Blaney said. “This could be one of the few opportunities that we have to purchase this site.

“I think it’s timely. There is a chimney there ready to fall and the building is in very poor condition. I do believe that the site would meet everything required.”

Councillor Blaney told Council officials not to ‘knock it on the head’ until the matter is fully considered.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Pauric McGarvey.

In an official response, Donegal County Council said that acquisitions within Milford should be ‘plan led’ and ‘informed by the process to prepare a Town Centre First Plan for Milford’. The Council said that it recommended that stage 2 of that process be completed before any acquisition interests are confirmed. Stage 2 is on schedule to conclude in May, but there is an April 23 deadline for applications under the Building Acquisition Measure.

Councillor Blaney said: “My fear is that, by the time the plan is completed and we go for a further application, maybe the site would be sold and wouldn’t qualify. I believe everything is in order for this site and a sale could be completed by September or October.”

Liam Ward, Director of Services with Donegal County Council, said the turnaround time was ‘very quick’ and there would be ‘hurdles to overcome’ in order for the plan to be successful.

He broadly agreed with Councillor Blaney in relation to the opportunity it presented.

Mr Ward said: “There really needs to be a very clear engagement with the local community and it be clear what the building would be used for.”

He told Councillor Blaney that the Council ‘will certainly explore’ the matter.