Plans for the €3.4 million Ballinfoile Community Centre have taken a major step forward this week as the Galway City Council has confirmed that a preferred bidder has been selected for the construction of this much needed facility.
Over the past number of months the council has carried out a detailed assessment of the tenders received. Earlier this week the local authority announced that a preferred tenderer had been recommended, the contractor being Purcell Construction Ltd. The project will involve a community centre as well as a series of meeting rooms which will be built on a site on the Headford Road.
Welcoming the announcement, Galway City Mayor Pádraig Conneely said that after many delays over the years this is “positive news”.
“Ballinfoile, Castlelawn Heights, Tirellan Heights, Castlegar and Menlo, and Ballindooley will benefit greatly from the community centre.
“Contract documents will now be prepared and construction should commence by the end of the year,” said Mayor Conneely.
Delays were caused when the original contractor pulled out of the project in August 2012 forcing the city council to re-start the tendering process.
Meanwhile, Crawford Sports Group has also been selected by Galway City Council as the preferred bidder for the €1.7 million Westside Sports Complex. The company, which has offices in Wexford and Ballymeena, Northern Ireland, will be issued with contract documents next week.
Giving his backing to the awarding of this contract, Mayor Conneely said: “Crawford Sports Group has developed major sports surfaces across Northern Ireland and Scotland, and also weather pitch surfaces at the Limerick Institute of Technology, and has strong recommendations from the Office of Public Works.
“The new Westside Sports Complex will include a new pitch for St Michael’s GAA Club, Corrib Rangers FC, and a running track. This project is long overdue and I welcome the selection of the contractor Crawford Sports Group. The works will be completed by July 2014.”
