Cork County Council is anxious to retain Mallow Town Park for the people of the town but will not pay an excessive sum for the 34-acre property, Cork county manager Maurice Moloney told councillors yesterday.
Mallow Town Council is in discussions with brothers Patrick and Michael Jephson who have sought the return of the park to them following the expiry of a lease giving the park to the people of Mallow for 99 years.
Mr Moloney told councillors that the council's legal advice was to continue in discussions with the Jephsons' representatives with a view to purchasing the title to the park. He said weekend media reports saying the Jephsons were seeking €1 million were inaccurate.
Mallow Town Council has already made an offer of €500,000 for the park, but this has been rejected by the Jephsons. However, they have given no indication to the council what price they are seeking for the land which flanks the northern bank of the Blackwater river.
"It would be very helpful if we knew what is being sought by the other side - contrary to reports in the Sunday papers there is no question of an asking price being put on it. We haven't reached that stage at all yet," said Mr Moloney.
"I would be slightly worried, though, that the message is coming across that we want the park so badly we will pay any price for it," said Mr Moloney, adding that he hoped the Jephsons would be reasonable in their approach to the negotiations for the purchase of the land.
Mr Moloney's position was supported by Mallow Labour councillor Seán Sherlock, who said the people of Mallow wanted the council to retain the land "but not at any price, and not at the cost of making fools of the people of Mallow".
The decision by the Jephsons to put a six-month moratorium on the return of the land to allow further discussions take place with Mallow Town Council was welcomed by county councillors at yesterday's meeting.
The town park is used by local GAA, soccer and rugby clubs.
It also includes a playground, a bus shelter, a car park and a road which services the centre of the town.