Councillors renew plea for correspondence on shopping centre in County Kilkenny

Cllr Ger Frisby has expressed renewed disappointment at an update from council officials that no official communication has been received from Dunnes Stores on a future reopening date for Ferrybank Shopping Centre.

Director of Services at Kilkenny County Council, Denis Malone, told elected members that he has written to Dunnes Stores on the issue but that has received no reply.

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Cllr Frisby stated that ‘it would be a huge part of the jigsaw to have that’.

“Now that we have light at the end of the tunnel, it’s a pity we don’t see engagement as everyone’s asking these questions,” he said.

Malone stated that Dunnes Stores are a private company and as such have no obligation to engage with the local authority on the issue.

Despite this, he said that he would write to them again.

BACKGROUND

Dunnes Stores was recently confirmed to be purchaser of the centre, a vast complex on the Kilkenny-Waterford border that has been mostly empty since its completion in 2008.

Since the purchase, a large amount of remedial work has been conducted, prompting anticipation of an inevitable opening.

Area Engineer Stan Cullen recently told council officials about some of the work that has been undertaken, including the reconfiguration of the entrance to make it more accessible and checks on fire and security alarms.