New future for Moate's old fire station outlined

A route towards a new future for the old fire station in Moate opened up this week after Westmeath County Council agreed to a long-term lease on the building to the Moate Town Team.

Members of the council heard at their July finance meeting that the renovation will see the space converted to an office, for the use of the Moate Town Team.

A lease on the building was agreed with Moate Tidy Towns in 2018, but not acted upon as the works required to the building were not undertaken. The meeting heard the building was in poor condition following a fire, and in need of renovation.

Now, however, there is grant funding in place for this conversion and renovation, but as the building is a protected structure, planning permission will have to be obtained.

Chief Executive Pat Gallagher, in a report to the councillors, said that it is intended that the planning process would take place this year and that the works to the building would be undertaken in the first quarter of next year.

He went on to explain that the Moate Town Team was established under the Town Centre First policy and said that provision of the office would be a tangible support to the team in the implementation of various initiatives and actions in the town.

In response to a query from Cllr Tom Farrell, Mr Gallagher said the term of the new lease is for twenty years.

Cllr Frankie Keena asked if the renovation works will be carried out by the council: “We don't want it left lying there; how soon can work begin to refurbish this building now that this work has been agreed?” he asked.

“It is intended that we would undertake the works, with the assistance of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme,” Mr Gallagher replied.