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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Lack of educational facilities could stunt future growth in Newtownmountkennedy
The Town Centre First policy was launched by the government in 2022 to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and to transform town centres into more attractive spaces for people to live, work, and visit, while also serving as hubs for services, social, cultural, and recreational activities. The plan is being delivered by social enterprise ACT on behalf of Wicklow County Council, in collaboration with the Newtownmountkennedy Town Team and a wide range of local stakeholders. The Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre welcomed a group of residents, local business owners and community representatives for a collaborative workshop earlier this week, where participants shared the views and ideas of a vision for the town over the next 25 years out to 2050. Land was zoned for community and education purposes as part of the local area plan for the town as far back as 2002, with the expectation it would be used to build a secondary school for the growing population in the wider area, but there has been no movement from the department over the past two decades. Among the other challenges highlighted by the consultants include the lack of doctors, dentists and mental health services. There are no civic spaces or library services, and the garda station is only staffed on a part time basis. More than 30 people attended the workshop with some key themes already emerging that will help shape the final plan. Calls have been made to consider improving public transport links, foster growth in local retail and hospitality, provide a gateway to Wicklow Mountains and the sea while promoting the town as a place to experience nature. Cllr Danny Alvey, who lives locally in Newtown and is a member of Newtown Tidy Towns was in attendance and said it was inspiring to see so many local voices come together with a shared passion for Newtownmountkennedy. 'This is exactly what community-led planning should look like—collaborative, creative, and rooted in local experience.' Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer O'Gorman said the plan is a vital step in empowering the people of Newtownmountkennedy to shape their town's future. 'The council is proud to support a process that puts the community at the heart of local development.' The third and final workshop in this series, 'Pathways to Delivery', is scheduled for Monday, September 29, from 6-8pm, at the Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre.
Irish Independent
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Committee keen for new Wicklow to Greystones greenway to avoid Special Area of Conservation
Potential routes for the project are being examined by the council engineers with a view to having another public consultation on the emerging preferred option in the second half of Greenway Committee consists of members of the Wicklow Town Team and Greystones Town Team, and have been meeting regularly in support of the long-awaited project which is being developed by Wicklow County Council. The committee is keen that the council learn lessons from the recently rejected Blessington Greenway, when An Bord Pleanála officials weren't satisfied that the application demonstrated beyond reasonable scientific doubt that the proposed development would not affect the integrity of the Wicklow Mountains Special Area of Conservation and the Poulaphouca Reservoir Special Protection Area. Speaking at their most recent meeting, chair of the committee Ciaran Lally said: 'We as a committee still believe this greenway has the potential to be a game-changer for people in Wicklow town, Newcastle, Kilcoole and Greystones. But from day one we always said we didn't want the project to go ahead if there wasn't a way to do it sensitively to the landscape of the Murrough. 'In its recent rejection of the Blessington Greenway project, An Bord Pleanála referenced the proximity of the route to the European protected areas as one of the reasons. 'The East Coast Greenway route selection is currently looking at options along the coast and further inland along field boundaries. Given the decision by An Bord Pleanála we think it would be wiser to avoid the sections of the coast which are in the Murrough SAC and focus on the field boundary route instead. 'Whilst it would be terrific to have an uninterrupted view of the sea for the greenway, we have to be realistic, and the field boundary route would still give some great views of the sea and the wetlands, and be an amazing amenity for the people of east coast county Wicklow and beyond. 'It also eliminates the potential delay that a coastal erosion protection project could have on the greenway's construction.' Speaking after the meeting was Cllr Danny Alvey, who is a member of the committee and Wicklow Municipal District. He said: 'My colleague, Cllr Stephen Stokes, and I sit on the Wicklow County Council Special Policy Committee for Transport and Infrastructure, which is responsible for overseeing greenway projects in the county. 'I have been a part of the committee campaigning for the East Coast Greenway since 2018 and I see the huge potential this project would have for improving connection, recreation, tourism and the local economy for all the towns and villages along its route. 'Everyone knows I am also very passionate about the environment and nature restoration in particular. I see projects like greenways as a great opportunity to use eco-tourism to connect local communities to their special areas of conservation. Doing so increases the value people see in these places and increases their chance of protection. In light of An Bord Pleanála's clear advice that European protected areas should be avoided by greenways, I think the most logical thing for the council to do now would be to choose a route across field boundaries close to the edge of the SAC. This way walkers and cyclists can still see and enjoy this incredibly scenic wetland landscape without impacting on it.' Cllr Stokes of Greystones Municipal District commented: 'Of course we need to listen to local residents and ensure the correct environmental approach. However the potential benefits are phenomenal. We have a special opportunity to promote active living and sustainable tourism. Let's get the wheels moving.'
