Remedial work to begin at Edenderry garda station within weeks
Remedial works at Edenderry garda station are to begin within weeks, the Offaly Independent can reveal. Speaking today (Thursday) Chief Superintendent John Scanlan said the closing date for tenders for the work is next Thursday, February 28 at noon. Contractors are set to be on site a fortnight later, he added.
Garda at Edenderry have been working with compromised facilities since the station was damaged by fire on Hallowe’en night - October 31 - 2011. Nobody was in the building at the time, and while the main damage was contained to a downstairs office in the building the rest of the station suffered smoke damage.
Edenderry councillor Declan Leddin described the building as it stands now as an “eyesore” this week, and said it is “completely unsatisfactory” for both gardaí and members of the public.
Work plans include returning the station to its former condition, along with some minor alternations and improvements. Speaking to the Offaly Independent Chief Supt Scanlan said his agenda is to have a “functioning building, fit for purpose, that gardaí can work in” as soon as possible.
“The people of Edenderry and the wider community have enormous respect for our local gardaí and the difficult operating conditions they have endured since the arson attack and I look forward to the completion of the necessary repairs and the return of a fully functional garda station here in Edenderry,” Cllr Leddin added.
***The Office of Public Works (OPW) responded to a query regarding remedial works at Edenderry garda station late on Thursday. A spokesperson said the tender package for the work was issued on February 18 and the closing date is March 4. Work to be carried out will include new doors, windows and ceilings in the fire damaged sections of the ground floor, painting of the ground and first floors, installation of a new public counter, new floor finishes to the ground floor and additional security measures to protect the building. Works are expected to commence mid-March and will take 14 works to complete, the spokesperson said.***