New Dalton Park community hub to cost over €400k

A new community hub costing more than €400,000 proposed for Dalton Park in Mullingar has received backing from councillors, and they are seeking clarity on how it will be funded and operated.

Westmeath County Council approved the Part 8 proposal for a 140 sq m single-storey community centre on a 0.42 hectare site beside the existing Dalton Park community centre (pictured).

The estimated construction cost is in excess of €400,000, according to council architect Andrew Macken, although funding has yet to be secured.

Cllr Andrew Duncan described the proposal as a “great initiative” which was “badly needed” as he proposed accepting the chief executive’s recommendation to proceed.

He suggested retaining a slightly larger area of the site in case the facility needs to be expanded or another use is required in the future.

The new building will include an entrance lobby, youth room, training and meeting room, office, toilets and storage, along with two large flexible meeting rooms.

The council say they could accommodate community events, youth and children’s activities, training sessions, movie nights, resident meetings and social gatherings.

There will also be accessible bathrooms and a kitchenette with a fridge, cooker, kettle and sink, allowing for cookery courses and demonstrations. Welfare facilities will be provided for Community Employment and Tús scheme workers.

The existing community centre is currently operating at full capacity as a childcare facility, according to the council report.

The new hub is intended to provide space for activities including health and wellbeing programmes, conflict resolution, group meetings and services provided by the Drug and Alcohol Task Force.

The site is council-owned and zoned Community, Educational and Institutional under the Westmeath County Development Plan.

Cllr Mick Dollard, who is chair of the existing resource centre in Dalton Park, welcomed the proposal but asked who would manage and operate the new facility on a daily basis. He also asked about the projected capital cost.

Jackie Finney told councillors that there was currently no funding in place for construction.

She said funding had been secured for the design and Part 8 process through the Healthy Communities programme, and the council would now seek funding to deliver the project.

Mr Macken said the designing architect’s estimate put construction costs at more than €400,000.

“We’re trying to sort out the funding,” he said, adding that the immediate objective was to secure planning approval, continue with the capital appraisal and examine ways of reducing the estimated construction costs.

The Dalton Park estate currently comprises 327 homes, and a further 17 units are under construction.

One public submission was received during the consultation, from Dalton Community Childcare Ltd, which asked for secure hoarding around the construction site and for the maximum amount of green space to be retained.

The chief executive recommended that the development proceed subject to a Construction Environmental Management Plan, including secure hoarding.

The report concluded that the development would provide “additional and much needed social and community facilities” for Dalton Park.