(Photo caption: Ballinasloe Town Team members at the Fair Green following the announcement of funding for two projects identified within the Town Centre First Plan. L-R David Finnerty, Martina Flanagan, Sean Fletcher, Joe Staunton, Graham Bartlet, Conor Johnston, Joseph Burke and Lyn Donnelly. Missing From Photo Stephen Kerr, Patricia Tierney and Sean Kelly.)
There was good news for the town recently with the approval of funding for two significant town-centre projects under Round 1 of the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.
Galway County Council has secured €140,000 to develop a masterplan for the historic Fair Green, while €3.7 million has been approved for the design and construction of a reimagined St Michael’s Square. Both projects are being submitted, managed and progressed by Galway County Council and represent an important step towards delivering the ambitions identified through the Ballinasloe Town Centre First Plan launched during the summer.
The Town Centre First process involved extensive community consultation with seven key projects for the town identified: the Fair Green Masterplan; River Suck; redesign of St Michael’s Square; development of Ballinasloe Stories; measures to address vacant and derelict buildings; Healthy Streets walking and cycling initiatives; and a coordinated Town Centre Neighbourhood and Backlands Masterplan. The Fair Green and town-centre public realm were among the areas highlighted through the process, helping to establish clear local priorities for the future development of the town centre.
There has been widespread political welcome for the funding – being one of just 122 towns to secure some of the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund totalling €409 million. Hazel Fox, Town Regeneration Officer with Galway County Council, said: “The funding approval is a very positive step for Ballinasloe and will allow Galway County Council to progress two important projects identified within the Town Centre First Plan. The extensive community engagement undertaken in developing the plan has provided a strong foundation as we now move towards the next stages of design and delivery.”
Town Team member Martina Flanagan stated “We are delighted to see some of the projects that came to the fore through the Town Centre First community consultations now moving forward. The Town Team is now looking towards to the next stage, reviewing the designs, and collaborating with Galway County Council, so that together, we can deliver a project that truly reflects the community’s vision and the Town Centre First framework.” The funding marks an important next stage in implementing the Town Centre First vision and builds on the collaborative work undertaken by Galway County Council, the Town Team and the wider Ballinasloe community.
There is no detailed design for St Michael’s square yet, with the Galway county council regeneration team to work on detailed proposals over the coming weeks which will then go through a public consultation as part of the Part 8 (planning permission) process. The terms of reference for the selection of consultants to come up with costed proposals for new enhanced layout and possible additional uses of the Fair Green will take place over the coming months.
