Demolition threat hangs over hotel consortium

THE consortium behind the proposed redevelopment of the Ard Rí Hotel in Co Waterford faces financial penalties and possible demolition of the former hotel if they fail to clean up the increasingly derelict site.

TRM Developments, fronted by Tom Coughlan, the former chairman/owner of Cork City Football Club, has not complied with orders issued by both Waterford City Council and Kilkenny County Council to clean up the site it had proposed to redevelop until planning permission was refused in 2009. Since then, the former hotel has been vandalised and is a blackspot for antisocial behaviour.

Yesterday, Colette Byrne, director of services at Waterford City Council, said ultimately the council could seek to take a charge on the property — in other words if the property was sold, the council could seek to recoup some of the sale value — if the council is forced to look after the site at its own cost.