SUTTON'S COURT ANNOUNCED AS NEW LOCATION FOR LIBRARY
Cork County Council has announced a location for Mitchelstown’s new library. The long awaited facility will be housed on the ground floor of the Sutton’s Court complex on the Clonmel road. It is yet to be confirmed if Forrest Hall in the Square in Mitchelstown, which was originally earmarked for the new library, is to be sold by the council.
Cllr Liam O’Doherty (FG) told The Avondhu, “A decision regarding Forrest Hall has yet to be made but Sutton's Court will make an excellent library location for the town. The tender has now gone out for the library to be kitted out and I hope that it will be opened by September.”
The development at Sutton’s Court, a section of which has been proposed for social housing, has been vacant for some time and with the current economic climate, business and traders in Mitchelstown are happy to see that the building will be used.
Chairman of Mitchelstown Business Association, Eamonn O’Brien, said: “It will be good for the town to see the building occupied and we welcome the fact that the town will have a new library.”
Cllr Kevin O’Keeffe (FF) who has long campaigned for Sutton’s Court to be used said, “The new library will be much better for the people of Mitchelstown, there will be improved facilities and it will be more accessible for people with disabilities.”
The much needed access at the new library was also welcomed by Cllr Frank O’Flynn (FF), “The existing library did not lend itself for proper use as it was upstairs and could not be accessed by people in wheelchairs, also the hours of opening were not great as it wasn’t accessible at weekends. These days a library has to be about much more than reading books.
"The new facility will be a place for people to meet and its location at Sutton’s Court could not be better. I would now call on the council to ensure that the new library is supplied and up and running for the people of Mitchelstown as a matter of urgency,” Cllr O’Flynn said.
A spokesperson for Cork County Council told The Avondhu, “Cork County Council has been seeking to provide modern library facilities at Mitchelstown for some time. An opportunity to provide a library at Sutton’s Court has been the subject of recent discussions.
The council has now concluded these discussions to purchase the premises to house the permanent library at Mitchelstown and a proposal will be brought to the Northern Division for approval on March 16.
Published:
Thursday 12th March 5:30pm
