Residents of Leitrim Village are set to gather tonight to discuss the shocking news that the Leitrim Marina Hotel, once a popular tourism hub, is under consideration to be converted into an International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre, potentially housing refugees. This transformation has sparked concerns, especially as it appears to have been pursued without proper public consultation.
A meeting is scheduled for tonight at 9:30 pm at St. Joseph's Centre, located beside the church in Leitrim Village.
Councillor Enda Stenson expressed his frustration, stating, "This is a big decision for the community, and yet, there’s been no public consultation. I didn’t even know about it until residents reached out to me." Stenson further emphasized that while the hotel had briefly housed Ukrainian refugees, it was initially intended as a tourism asset for Leitrim Village, a popular destination due to its scenic beauty and connection to the Shannon-Erne Waterway. "Leitrim Village is one of the top tourist hotspots in the county, and turning this hotel into a refugee centre could effectively end tourism here," he said.
The Leitrim Marina Hotel, which has long attracted tourists with its picturesque location, had previously served as temporary accommodation for Ukrainians. However, the planned long-term shift to an IPAS centre would signify a permanent change in its use. "Once this becomes a refugee centre, it will never go back to being a hotel again," warned Stenson. "This change could hurt tourism and the local economy."
Stenson also raised concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the plans. "There’s no public consultation, no involvement of the local community or businesses in this decision-making process. This is the same situation we’ve seen in other towns where decisions were made behind closed doors," he said.
The Marina Hotel is reportedly owned by the same group that runs the Bush Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, a situation that some residents feel further complicates the issue. Stenson noted that Leitrim has already hosted its fair share of refugees and believes the county is shouldering more than its fair load. "We’ve done our bit as a county, but we shouldn’t see every tourist facility in Leitrim turned into a refugee centre," he said.
The council meeting tonight is expected to see residents voice their concerns and demand answers from local officials. "This issue isn’t going away, and we’ll be raising it at the next council meeting," Stenson confirmed. “The community deserves transparency and a say in what happens to the future of their village.”
As the situation unfolds, the residents are determined to make their voices heard, hoping to keep the hotel as a key tourism asset for Leitrim Village's future.
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