Senator lauded for intervening to secure grant for derelict Carrick site's regeneration

The intervention of a Tipperary South senator was crucial in securing nearly €1m funding towards the regeneration of Carrick-on-Suir’s derelict former Goldcrop site on the town’s North Quay, Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District’s monthly meeting was told.

Councillors praised Fianna Fáil Senator Imelda Goldsboro at the meeting for making a case to Minister for Rural & Community Development Dara Calleary for the €984,000 Rural Regeneration & Development Fund grant to be allocated to Tipperary County Council to assist with the clean up and redevelopment of the 2.7 acres site.

READ ALSO: Council outlines how it will invest almost €1m allocated for regeneration of Carrick-on-Suir derelict site

Her party colleague Cllr Kieran Bourke led the expressions of gratitude to the former Carrick MD councillor as he pointed out there had been a danger this funding would be lost to Carrick-on-Suir due to what he described as “negative vibes being put out by certain quarters in the town”.

“I can’t but mention Senator Goldsboro for her intervention in going to the minister and making a huge case for Carrick-on-Suir to acquire this money,” said the Carrick-on-Suir councillor.

He also paid tribute to Carrick Municipal District’s Director of Services Brian Beck for the work he did that enabled the council to secure this funding.

Carrick MD Cathaoirleach Cllr David Dunne of Sinn Féin and Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Fitzgerald of Fine Gael said they wished to echo Cllr Bourke’s comments and congratulated Mr Beck and his team on securing the grant.

Cllr Dunne said Senator Goldsboro “dug deep” and “pulled it out of the bag” for Carrick-on-Suir as he claimed that money had been in “jeopardy”.

Cllr Fitzgerald declared it was great to see negativity being combated in a positive way by seeing this money coming into the district.

Labour Cllr Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan and Fianna Fáil Cllr Amy Goldsboro who is Senator Goldsboro’s daughter, also joined in congratulating Mr Beck and council staff on securing the funding for the former Goldcrop site.

Mr Beck thanked councillors for their kind words and paid tribute to the district’s staff for their hard work on behalf of Carrick-on-Suir.

“It wouldn’t have been done without them commiting 100% to get this across the line,” he said.

Mr Beck said while he didn’t live close to Carrick, he was hugely committed to the town and he hoped the elected members could see that.

“I have a long term commitment to this town and district to continue to deliver for this town.

“We have a very exciting future for this town and I intend to be here to see it through for you. As they say, onwards and upwards.”

The Council intends to use the RRDF grant to demolish derelict buildings on the former Goldcrop site and to seek Part 8 planning permission to “activate” the site including carrying out Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) design brief.

The local authority purchased the site in 2022 from the Cork based Goldcrop company for an estimated €500,000 with the the help of €400,000 from the Government’s Town & Village Renewal Scheme Buildings Acquisition Measure.

It subsequently secured planning permission to carry out extensive remediation works to clear the site of its derelict buildings and structures.

Last year the council received €185,000 Just Transition funding to design a Riverside Regeneration Project that included the creation of a masterplan for the former Goldcrop site’s redevelopment.

The council has appointed Reddy Architecture + Urbanism to carry out a Feasibility and Concept Design for the site.

In June the local authority carried out the design project’s first public consultation process, seeking the views of local people on the site’s “future developmental potential” .

The initial results of this public consultation process were presented to Carrick Municipal District councillors “for discussion and feedback” at a workshop prior to their October monthly meeting.

District Administrator Marie Cox outlined in her report to Carrick MD’s monthly meeting that the feedback from councillors will now be reviewed and implemented before further public consultation takes place.

Senator Imelda Goldsboro

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