By Cianna McNally

Monaghan Town Manager Declan Nelson has confirmed that progress, although slow, is being made in relation to the mixed-use development in Monaghan Town.

Following a meeting with the developers of the project which is located opposite Monaghan Shopping Centre, Mr Nelson spoke on the issue at the May monthly meeting of Monaghan Town Council yesterday evening, Monday, 17 May. According to the Manager, the Clarke Group has offered assurances of its commitment to the development but more details cannot be released into the public domain due to commercial reasons.

Mr Nelson also pointed out that the project was better off with a profitable building firm such as Clarke’s, than if it had been tendered out to one of the construction companies that have been taken over by NAMA. The Manager stated that he was aware of the frustrations that have been expressed by both councillors and the public over the lack of works on the project and said a bond was in place to ensure the work was completed. “There is a bond in place. The worst case scenario is that we can fill in the site and resurface it but I feel that that would be a very retrograde step for the town.” Mr Nelson added that although Clarke’s have invested a considerable amount of money in the development already, some financial institutions are presently reluctant to provide finance.