Plans relating to a new €8 million Fire Service Headquarters at Kilbarry Road were presented to Waterford City Council on Monday night by Valerie Mulvin from the Dublin firm of architects involved, McCullough Mulvin.
The three-storey “landmark” building, on which work could start as early as next July, is also to house the local Civil Defence and will have the potential to accommodate community gardai. The meeting was told that CCTV cameras would be installed and security would be tight around the building.
There would also be measures to ensure safety for residents as fire tenders entered and left. Cllr. Davy Walsh asked for signal lights to provide added safety in the latter regard.
Director of Services Lar Power said he was in talks with Department officials with a view to finalising the required funding.
Cllr David Cullinane said it was great news for Ballybeg and should be seen as part of an ongoing re-development of the area.
Cllr Seamus Ryan strongly urged that community gardai be located there and Cllr Tom Cunningham appealed for local building contractors to be given favourable consideration when it came to the tendering process. He said it would be a very attractive job for them in these recessionary times.
John’s College
The meeting also heard of plans for redevelopment of St John’s College Seminary and surrounding lands at John’s Hill, for the construction of 64 accommodation units for elderly people.
