BY JEROME HUGHES
A LANDMARK building in Stranorlar, branded an “eyesore”, will almost certainly be demolished this year and replaced by 8 much-needed homes before the end of next year.
It’s understood many locals are expressing relief at the prospect of bidding farewell to the derelict old fire station, which has remained vacant for years, serving primarily as a makeshift car park in recent times.
“The Donegal News and other outlets have reported the fact that I’ve been raising this issue in the council regularly over the past eight years or more. There’s hardly a meeting whereby I wouldn’t be asking them to get on with it,” claims Cllr Patrick McGowan.
The project has progressed past the design stage, and the planning process is up for discussion at a meeting of Donegal County Council today.
All six Stranorlar Municipal District councillors have agreed on the project, signaling a swift movement forward after years of procrastination.
Cllr McGowan proposes naming the new development ‘Rosebud Place’, harking back to its original name before the fire station’s construction.
He brands the current site’s status as an eyesore, stating: “People living opposite and nearby have been forced to look at it for years and years. Only for ourselves and the Tidy Towns keeping it clean, weeded, and flowered, it would be much worse.”
Despite various proposals over the years to purchase or rent the site for different purposes like a car sales showroom or even a car washing centre, Cllr McGowan believes the proposed new homes are the ideal solution.
“The previous ideas were totally inappropriate and thank God the council thought the same.
“The site is small but the proposed eight units will be ideal for older people right in the centre of town and you’ll always get parking on the main street. Each unit will have its own entrance and will have disability access.
“Amid the housing crisis, buying land and acquiring sites has been a major issue, particularly in Ballybofey/ Stranorlar. That excuse doesn’t work in this case because the council already owns the site,” insisted Cllr McGowan.
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