A Waterford Councillor says the local authority can only force the owners of a derelict hotel to tidy up the outside.
The Grand Hotel in Tramore has lain vacant since 2014.
The matter is now due before Waterford District Court after the owners failed to comply with a derelict sites notice which was served last year.
Sinn Fein’s Jim Griffin says the syndicate that owns the hotel has refused to engage with them.
“We’re bringing them to court in October and I have no doubt we will be 100% successful.
“It will force the hand of the owners of the Grand to upgrade the outside.
“It’s not good enough and that’s as much as we can do as a local authority at present, serve them with the derelict sites act.”
He says the council is not in a position to buy the building.
“I have had reps coming into me asking would we force the council to CPO this building.
“For the council to CPO the building we have to then find the money. It’s probably worthless as it is.
“We’re struggling in the council to spend on the public realm works let alone take on a building like this and have that around our necks too.”
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‘Deep pockets needed’
The Green Party’s Marc Ó Cathasaigh says it’s a situation that really needs to be resolved
“We have so many positive developments happening in Tramore, so many positive developments happening in front of the Grand with the planned redevelopment of Tramore town centre.
“This is something that really needs to be moved on, Tramore is beginning to clear its throat, really starting to spread its wings and the Grand Hotel really needs to be resolved.
He says huge investment is needed.
“To recover the site and return it to business as a quality functioning hotel is going to require millions, it’s going to require extremely deep pockets.
“However, it’s not good enough to stand back and say it can’t be done for those reasons.
It’s a keystone site within the town, it’s so visible, it’s really not a question of choice, something has to be done to move on the site.”
Marc Ó Cathasaigh says the council’s role will be in moving things forward.
“Trying to secure the private investment that’s going to be required here.
“It is a substantial opportunity, it’s the standout hotel site within Tramore, it’s visible from everywhere in the town.
“I think there’s a role for the council in helping to move it on, to get the current owner to move it on.
“But, from there, yes, it will probably be private money that will make up the shortfall.”
‘Huge potential’
Agnes Aylward from the Lafcadio Hearne Japanese Gardens says it would be fabulous to see the Grand Hotel reopened.
“The town centre is really lost without it, it will bring in people who will stay here overnight.
“We have a lot of day visitors now coming through but, there’s nobody staying here.
“It’s a bit of a ghost-town and this is a terrible sight.”
She says there’s huge potential in the Grand Hotel.
“For anybody who is an investor with a bit of imagination, there is a little goldmine here.
“There is a roof-top restaurant waiting to happen with fantastic views over the bay.
“There could be 50 to 60 boutique bedrooms.
“We have potentially very high spending tourists now coming to visit the gardens, we actually have people coming purposefully to see the gardens as well as daytrippers passing through.
“Where better? It’s 100 yards from us.
“It needs to happen.”
