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19 ways to improve Scariff highlighted in plan


A RECENTLY prepared plan has identified 19 potential improvement opportunities for the town of Scariff after it was chosen to participate in a Tidy Towns/Environmental Improvement Strategy project.

 

The initiative, which was conducted by Clare County Council, CLDC, Leader and The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, is aimed at assisting and encouraging local community groups to improve their towns.

The Tidy Towns and Environmental Improvement Strategy for Scariff was drawn up by Keith Mitchell of Cunnane Stratton Reynolds Land Planning and Design from Galway after several meetings and consultation with the local community council and the tidy towns committee.
The plan has been published and outlines key opportunities to improve and enhance the urban and natural environments of the area.

The plan provides a framework to help community groups develop their place.
The plan identified Scariff’s main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Among its strengths is its location on the Lough Derg drive within one mile of the lake’s shoreline; its strong Tidy Towns/community group; natural amenities and related tourism potential; the compact cohesiveness of the town; a strong sense of historic identity and architecture; a well-defined market square civic space; its linear riverside public park close to the town centre and its proximity to Limerick, Shannon and Ennis.

The plan cited two main weaknesses. The first referred to the development of the town to the west where it has merged with Tuamgraney and “created a continuum with no clear indication of where Scariff starts”. Secondly, it identified the occasional vacant or poorly maintained properties/developed sites as a further weakness.

Opportunities for improvement set out in the plan include the provision of a bridge structure to link the water tower with the local park; the potential to light the water tower at night to create a landmark feature; potential to develop new walkways or cycle ways; potential to promote Scariff as a kayaking destination using the existing slipway and parking facilities at the park; potential to promote the existing harbour facilities and strengthen the harbour’s links to the town and the potential to strengthen the market square and promote pedestrian movement through the town’s commercial centre.

There were three threats outlined in the plan. These included the town’s vibrancy suffering due to economically threatened businesses adding to the vacant premises issue; uncontrolled temporary advertising signage and difficulty mobilising participants to deliver a vision for the town.

More than 10 further potential interventions were also outlined in the plan.

The community council intends to seek Leader funding in the coming months to develop some of the major ideas formulated by the plan and a full copy of the report is available online at www.scariff.ie.

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