Campaigners trying to save one of Sligo's few remaining historic buildings from demolition say they are ready to serve a High Court injunction on Sligo Corporation if the local authority refuses to accept an offer from the Heritage Council to have the building assessed.
Demolition work started on Tuesday on buildings adjoining the 19th century Harper Campbell warehouses between Union Street and Union Place, but the corporation has now postponed demolishing it pending further examination.
A spokesman for Sligo Corporation told The Irish Times the borough engineer was doing a survey of the building yesterday and would report to the county manager. He said an architect "who specialises in the preservation of old buildings" was also working on the survey.
The Heritage Council wrote to Sligo Corporation on March 14th offering to fund an assessment of the building and pointed out that in the context of new responsibilities given to local authorities since January, "there is an onus on all concerned to make every effort to secure the conservation of the architectural heritage". No reply has yet been received by the Heritage Council.
While not officially a listed building, the Harper Campbell courtyard warehouses are graded as of "regional importance" in the latest Duchas inventory of architecturally significant buildings.
Campaigners say this is the last chance to save an example of Sligo's 19th century industrial architecture. Other similar buildings have been demolished.
The Harper Campbell warehouses are similar to buildings on the quay in Westport which have been completely restored. It is argued that similar restoration could be carried out in Sligo in a flagship project adding to the overall attractiveness of the town.
Mr Nicholas Prins has retained senior counsel and is ready to take a High Court injunction against the corporation if it goes ahead with demolition without agreeing to the Heritage Council's request. He is challenging the assertion that the building is in a dangerous condition.
Acting as a private citizen, Mr Prins, who has been manager of Lissadell House for the past 13 years, said an architect's report he had commissioned concluded that "the structural condition of the buildings is stable".
Repairs suggested included replacing roof covering and missing slates, closing off first and second-floor openings and repairing a parapet which divides the building above roof level.
The county manager, Mr Hubert Kearns, has said he had no choice but to go ahead with demolition after the borough engineer informed him that "the structures were dangerous and unsafe" and the corporation's insurers said it would not be indemnified for injuries in or near the buildings.
Much of the controversy surrounding the demolition is linked to the fact that it is on the route of the proposed Inner Relief Road, which is opposed by a majority of current corporation members although favoured by the county manager and senior officials.
After a public hearing last June a decision is still awaited from the Minister for the Environment on whether the road, which would run through a number of terraces, can go ahead or not.
A majority of members of the former corporation backed the road but the current members refused to open tenders for demolition work along parts of the route on Union Street and Union Place.
The county manager used special powers last month to open tenders despite the views of elected members, and again using a clause in legislation, the contract for demolition work was signed last week by a single member of the corporation, newly-elected Mr Jude Devins. He said he did so because he believed the buildings were in a dangerous condition.