CBRRC – redevelopment plans must be environmentally sustainable and community focused

The redevelopment of Columb Barracks has to be environmentally sustainable and community focused.

That’s according to the Columb Barracks Restoration and Regeneration Committee (CBRRC), the group representing the 23 civil and social organisations housed in the barracks.

In an email to the Westmeath Examiner, CBRRC member Jack O’Sullivan outlined the group’s vision for the barracks buildings, which could be developed alongside side the LDA’s plans to construct social housing on the greenfield part of the site.

The CBRRC have already secured what Jack describes as a “substantial grant” from Sustainable Development Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to commission consultants to prepare an Energy Master Plan for the barracks site.

Jack says that if CBRRC plans for the barracks come to fruition, it will benefit the groups housed there as well as the wider community. The CBRRC has sent the LDA its Vision Statement but has yet to receive a reply.

The email states: Our vision is for a vibrant community-owned and operated centre, providing education and other community services, based on renewable energy, zero waste and other environmentally sustainable and economically viable activities and practices; and capable of being an agent (though education and demonstration) for the spreading of these practices and ideas.

There are currently 23 community organisations located at Columb Barracks and using the buildings and facilities, and our objective is that these should continue; they not only provide essential social services, but there is no other suitable premises available to them.

In addition, our plan is that the Barracks can support:

• Architecturally sympathetic conversion of some of the existing historic buildings to provide social and affordable homes for residents (including a mixture of families, couples and individuals), some of whom would work in the regenerated Barracks centre;

• Some living spaces for people with special needs, to provide an appropriate diversity, and to ensure that there will always be people working and living in the centre;

• Short-term accommodation for tourists and visitors to Mullingar (hostel, B&B, self-catering), to provide further employment and viable use of the buildings;

• An educational and teaching centre, providing a variety of courses covering future skills, environmental education, zero-carbon lifestyle education, urban planning, and other topics of value to the transformation of Mullingar as renewable-energy-based zero-waste town;

• Formal links to third level colleges such as AIT, UCD, the new Technological University Dublin (formerly DIT) and to the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, Dublin;

• A practical demonstration and climate action research centre, in association with the third-level institutes, and linked also with international organisations active in these areas;

• A meeting place for a midlands think tank which would examine and promote ways to innovate and fast-track methods for the use of renewable and recycled materials in buildings and infrastructure, and would help to develop a micro-energy grid based on renewable sources of energy (in association with the SEAI);

• Sports facilities complementary to those in the town; eg tennis courts, basketball, jogging track, multi-purpose sports pitch; and a publicly accessible aerobic fitness or exercise area, for adults and young people, similar to those in many small towns and city suburbs throughout Ireland;

• A museum and art gallery, including a museum based in the historic jail building on the site, to display the military history of the town, and the achievements of entertainers, sportsmen and sportswomen, and other prominent people associated with Mullingar;

• A small library, complementary to the excellent library operated by Westmeath County Council in the County Buildings, but specialising in information relevant to the activities proposed for the Barracks centre;

• Workshops for artists; eg pottery, painting, sculpture, weaving, woodwork, metalwork, other craftwork, workshops for cycle repair, household equipment repair, furniture repair, exchange of household goods and equipment (to promote recycling and re-use, and contributing to the circular economy);

• Concert and theatre space, and rehearsal space;

• An area for organic vegetable and fruit growing; food market; café.

We have developed these ideas during two years of regular meetings, and we believe that the 10-acre site, together with the existing buildings, and with some small amount of new building if necessary, can accommodate this diversity of uses; most of which are not currently available in the area.