West Cork arts group waiting almost two months to gain access to vacant council-owned building 

A Clonakilty arts group has been waiting almost two months to gain access to a vacant council-owned building after being selected to use it as a temporary base.

The group was notified seven or eight weeks ago that its application for the “meanwhile use” of 8 Kent Street had been successful.

However, it has still not received the keys because a licence agreement has yet to be put in place.

Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse raised the delay at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Divisional Committee.

She said the agreement was understood to be with the council’s legal section and asked what was holding up the process.

“What exactly is the delay and, mainly, when can they expect to gain access to their new temporary space?” Ms Towse asked.

She said the group needed a clear timeline so it could begin planning activities at the property.

“I can’t wait to see what they do with it, and it would be really great for the town,” she said.

Council officials confirmed that the licence agreement was understood to be with the legal section.

An official said the matter would be raised with the council’s asset management unit in an effort to move the process forward.

• Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme