Age Concern makes approach to council for Town Hall tenancy

THE Council appears to have finally found a suitable tenant to rent the ground floor of Ballyclare Town Hall.

Age Concern is believed to have expressed an interest in leasing the 1,144sq/ft space, which is in a central position in the town and has been lying vacant for several years.

The charity is proposing to use the premises as a day care centre for older people in Ballyclare with dementia.

It hopes to encourage older people to participate in a range of social activities such as craftwork and painting, and to provide them with a meal at lunchtime.

The premises would also be open for potential Dementia Project clients to seek information and advice.

This type of service is being offered at the Ballyclare Community Concerns building on Doagh Road in Ballyclare at present.

Members attending Monday night's meeting of the Council's Development Committee meanwhile, accepted a recommendation that the terms of the lease to the tenant be accepted.

The lease term is five years, from April 1 this year.

Councillor Etta Mann welcomed the proposal.

"I am glad to see it and am in wholehearted agreement for it," she said.

Members also agreed with the recommendation that letting agents Frazer Kidd appoint a solicitor to draft a lease.

Councillor Tom Campbell queried why the Council's solicitor could not be entrusted with this task, and was assured this would be looked into, and that "all normal protocols would be adhered to."

At the January 2010 Committee meeting it was decided that the lease of the space be re-advertised for a range of commercial uses - excluding the sale of hot food, and subject to planning permission.

This followed an approach by a local businessman who wished to use the space for a cafe. Several members raised concerns about the prospect of another cafe/coffee shop in the town.

Frazer Kidd subsequently re-advertised the lease, and received a proposal from Age Concern.

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