logo
New Ross unveils new age friendly car parking spaces – ‘It makes the town more accessible and welcoming'

New Ross unveils new age friendly car parking spaces – ‘It makes the town more accessible and welcoming'

Taking place in New Ross, the spaces were officially launched this week by Cllr Bridín Murphy, Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District, in the presence of district members and council officials.
These dedicated parking spaces are designed to promote inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that older residents and those with mobility challenges can easily access the town's amenities and services. The initiative reflects the town's ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive community where everyone can participate fully in town life.
Speaking at the unveiling, New Ross District Manager, Alan Fitzhenry, said: 'We are thrilled to introduce these age friendly parking spaces, which help in making New Ross a more accessible and welcoming place for all. Initiatives like this demonstrate our dedication to supporting residents of all ages and abilities, and we are proud to champion inclusivity in our community.
"Thanks to Niamh Bolger, the age friendly programme manager with Wexford County Council, for her support on this project and to the area engineer, David Murphy, for completing the works.'
Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Council, Cllr Bridín Murphy said: 'It is with great pleasure that I unveil these new age friendly parking spaces in New Ross town today, as my last official task as Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District. These spaces, strategically located to provide easier access to essential services and amenities, are a small but meaningful step towards enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the district.
"I want to thank Niamh Bolger, age friendly officer with Wexford County Council, for funding this initiative, as well as the district engineer, David Murphy, for installing the spaces. I encourage all motorists to respect these courtesy spaces, together we can create a more inclusive New Ross that truly caters to the needs of all residents.'
A Wexford County Council spokesperson added: 'The new spaces are part of a broader effort by the district to enhance accessibility in the town, aligning with the national Age-Friendly Ireland Programme. New Ross Municipal District is committed to continuing such initiatives to ensure New Ross remains a vibrant, inclusive place to live, work, and visit.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Popular Wexford beach gets over €38,000 funding for accessibility
Popular Wexford beach gets over €38,000 funding for accessibility

Irish Independent

timea day ago

  • Irish Independent

Popular Wexford beach gets over €38,000 funding for accessibility

The funding was provided by the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, where Wexford has seen a number of projects receive funding, totalling nearly €310,000 for eight projects across the region. Among the projects, Morriscastle beach in Gorey stands out as Wexford County Council intends to create an accessible viewing stand and lay out 50 metres of beach matts across the beach with €38,052 in funding. In 2022, following the launch of beach mats to allow for wheelchair accessibility at Rosslare Strand, members of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District announced their wish to roll them out at Morriscastle. Councillor Mary Farrell is delighted the funding has been approved and is excited to get started on the project. 'It is a fantastic blue flag beach along the North of Wexford. 'We wanted to make it more accessible for people, we have the boardwalk, but we came up with the beach mats to extend from the boardwalk, Cllr Mary said. A viewing stand is a raised platform where people with limited mobility, wheelchair users, or those with difficulty accessing an area, can view the beach and ocean without having to navigate difficult terrain. While the beach mats provide a durable surface for wheelchairs users, or strollers to travel across sand more easily. The viewing stand and beach mats would make Morriscastle beach more inclusive and accessible to those who use a wheelchair, allowing them easier access to recreational spaces. Mary further said she hopes the viewing stand and beach mats will be up and running at Morriscastle next year for the summer season. 'It will be available all year round for everybody to avail of. 'We have the boardwalk, we have the beach wheelchair and now we'll have the viewing stand and beach mats, so it's an addition to that,' Mary added. Wicklow Wexford TD Brian Brennan has also welcomed the number of developments brought to fruition under the scheme. 'We are extraordinarily lucky to live in a place with such an abundance of natural beauty and it is really important that we continue to invest in the infrastructure to ensure that these areas are accessible and open for use. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I want to commend the various community groups who collaborate with key stakeholders to develop and enhance recreational amenities in their locality,' Deputy Brennan said. In addition to this, many other projects being funded include walking trails, mountain access routes and outdoor swimming amenities at Crory lane link to the Edenvale Walk trail and Sweetwalk trail. The Blackstairs Recreation Trail will undertake a feasibility study for a walking & cycling trail connecting Bunclody, Kiltealy, Killanne, Templeudigan and Ballywilliam. 'Funding provided under this scheme continues to deliver and enhance our recreational offering which is of huge importance to us from a community wellbeing perspective, as well as being a catalyst for tourism in rural areas,' Deputy Brennan added.

Archeological expert criticises Wexford council over destruction of 'historic' homes
Archeological expert criticises Wexford council over destruction of 'historic' homes

The Journal

timea day ago

  • The Journal

Archeological expert criticises Wexford council over destruction of 'historic' homes

A FORMER PRESIDENT of the British Archeological Association has criticised Wexford County Council for its handling of a historic part of the county town. The comments were made after the local authority and the State planning authority gave approval for a developer to demolish houses dating to the mid 1800s in an area known as The Faythe. Located close to Wexford Harbour near the south-east coast, The Faythe is in a historic part of Wexford town where its narrow streets crisscross eras of the last several hundred years of Irish history. Dr Richard Gem told The Journal that it was important to see The Fayth granted special conservation status so that the area could be developed in line with the historic nature of the area. He said it was a matter of 'some surprise and concern' that the area is not included among the Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) designated in Wexford's County Development Plan. However, Gem said it was 'even more extraordinary' that the nearest designated area 'terminates precisely at the point where The Faythe commences – as if to suggest, quite misleadingly, that there is nothing there in the townscape or architecture worth conserving'. 'It is not difficult to see that with increasing pressures nationally to meet current housing needs by developing land behind houses, the historical and archaeological interest of The Faythe is especially vulnerable,' Gem said. Residents fighting against the development in Wexford have criticised the decision to give approval, pointing to a planning report that warned the development would be 'crammed' into the old area. They say that the case raises legitimate questions over how older towns are developed amid the backdrop of the housing crisis. They are now seeking to acquire protected and conservation status for the area known as The Faythe. Planning permission Two years ago, Co Wexford-based developer Bawn Developments applied for planning permission to knock three houses for a block of apartments and 11 houses, and take green space as part of the grounds for the development. In late 2023, Wexford County Council initially granted permission despite 90 objections, but the proposals eventually ended up before An Bord Pleanála. The approval came despite an An Bord Pleanála inspector warning it would make for a 'crammed development', while an established architecture and heritage expert has said he finds it 'extraordinary' that the area is not designated with conservation status. The council has defended the plans as much needed for the area and to address the housing crisis in the county, where over 1,500 households are on the social housing list awaiting new accommodation. Advertisement Some of the locals alongside the mural to champion accordion player George Ross, who lived on the street. The three homes earmarked for destruction sit on the corner of the street and are approximately 150 years old. One house was previously a thatched cottage and dates back to the early 1700s. Then, in March, Bawn was given the greenlight to go ahead and knock the homes to prepare for development. This came after An Coimisiún Pleanála, formerly known as An Bord Pleanála, overruled its own inspector who had supported many of the community's concerns. A local community group, called Fight 4 The Faythe, has been established and has been holding weekly protests and marches against the development every week since. They have pointed to planning authorities description of the homes as habitable prior to being sold. When speaking to The Journal , Fight 4 The Faythe founder Sue Rea said that they would continue to oppose the development and hold peaceful protests over the months to come. 'We are in a housing crisis and this has to be acknowledged,' Rea said. 'However, surely town planners and those making planning decisions should be considerate of existing residents and provision of amenities.' What did the inspector's report say? In her report, inspector Angela Brereton warned that the site would make for a 'crammed form of development' if approved. 'It would not provide for a replacement building of exceptional quality that would have a positive impact on the visual quality and character of the area,' Brereton said in the report last November. She added that scrapping the existing houses and replacing them with the apartments and other housing would run contrary to objectives ranging from built heritage to sustainable development. Despite Brereton's issues with the proposals, the planning board overruled her findings in a 2-1 vote. Bye bye mural: the tribute to George Ross on No 94 in the process of being removed. For the past seven years, the corner had been marked with a mural of a former Fleadh winner and accordion player, George Ross, who hailed from The Faythe. That has been removed in recent weeks as the development got underway. In its response to concerns raised, Wexford County Council said that the homes were not Protected Structures and that the mural does not have planning permission. It added that the 'contribution the mural makes to the historic streetscape is entirely subjective' for onlookers. Wexford County Council and Bawn Developments were both contacted for comment and did not respond. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Historic maritime monument from Wexford shipwreck to be unveiled
Historic maritime monument from Wexford shipwreck to be unveiled

Irish Independent

time4 days ago

  • Irish Independent

Historic maritime monument from Wexford shipwreck to be unveiled

The unveiling will take place on Sunday, August 24, which coincides with Water Day during National Heritage Week, and a propeller which was recovered from the vessel (before its complete deterioration) will be installed as a permanent structure on the Shore Road in St. Kearns, overlooking Bannow Bay where the boat made its final voyage. With support from Wexford County Council, the propeller was salvaged and preserved. Funding from the Heritage Council and the Saltmills and St Kearns Community Group has enabled the construction of this enduring tribute to the Portláirge and to Wexford's maritime legacy. Built in 1907 by the Dublin Dockyard Company for the Waterford Harbour Commissioners, the SS Portláirge served for 77 years as a channel-clearing steam dredger. After sea trials on the Clyde, it operated mainly in Waterford, with assignments in New Ross and Liverpool. By its final year, the mud boat was regarded as Europe's last working steam dredger. In 1921, it famously transported two officers of the Irish Provisional Government to Youghal. The boat's last journey, in August 1987, ended in Bannow Bay, where it ran aground during a storm and has been its resting place ever since. Over the past four decades, the vessel has deteriorated beyond repair. In summer 2023, the Community Group, in collaboration with Wexford County Council, removed the historic propeller. With land donated by Tommy and Jodie Hickey, of Hook Head Oysters, the group commissioned a monument that celebrates the boat's legacy and the region's rich seafaring past. The unveiling event will be hosted by the Saltmills and St Kearns Community Group in partnership with the St Kearns Rowing Club, and the organisers have promised a day full of activities, including ecological dredging talks, rowing trials, maritime-themed entertainment, barbeque with live music and face painting for children. The events get underway at 2 p.m. and everyone is welcome to take part in the festivities, explore the community's maritime roots, and view this unique piece of Irish nautical history.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store