Draft plan consultation in final stages

A ROUND-TABLE discussion will be held in Kilrush on Tuesday, February 19, as part of the public consultation process for the preparation of the Draft Kilrush Town and Environs Development Plan 2014 – 2020.
Members of the public are being urged to participate in the World Café-themed event at Kilrush Youth Centre at 7pm, which will be hosted by planners and officials from Kilrush Town Council.
A year-long public review of the 2008 Development Plan for Kilrush, due to expire in 2014, is due to conclude on Tuesday, March 12, which is the deadline for receipt of written submissions or observations.
Mayor of Kilrush, Mairéad O’Brien, is urging members of the public to review the draft plan.
“This is the only plan that deals directly with the future development of Kilrush Town and therefore, it is important that the people of the town have their say in its formulation. Kilrush is at a crossroads in terms of how decisions we make today will have a bearing on the future development of the town in years to come. Everyone has a part to play and this public consultation process is a wonderful opportunity for people to get involved in putting together a new vision for their town,” the town mayor stressed.
Brian McCarthy, senior planner, Clare County Council, said all written submissions and observations made to the planning authority in relation to the draft plan, would be taken into consideration before the plan is finalised.
He added that the draft plan document, which is available for public viewing, contains a wide range of proposals relating to the future development of the town and surrounding areas.
“The plan includes designs for improvements to the streetscape of Francis Street and Cappa Village, proposals for a playground in Kilrush and designs for the revitalisation of Place de Plouzane, following the input of the school children at the consultation stage. It also includes a specific chapter on Kilrush Town Centre, retail development and tourism. The plan includes a chapter on green infrastructure linking the assets of Vandeleur Garden and the marina via a river walk, with an emphasis on cycling and walking, a specific chapter on Cappa and proposals to attract Atlantic Way tourism and high-quality mapping and aerial photo graphs. For the first time, meanwhile, key opportunity sites in the town have been identified with specific development proposals,” Mr McCarthy added.
The Draft Kilrush Town and Environs Development Plan 2014 – 2020 is available for public inspection, during normal working hours at Kilrush Town Council, Kilrush Public Library Cultúralann Sweeney in Kilkee, de Valera Library, Ennis and Local Study Centre in Ennis, and Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis. It is also available for viewing and downloading on Kilrush Town Council’s website at www.kilrush.ie.
Community groups, individuals, stakeholders and students are encouraged to make written submissions no later than 4pm on Tuesday March 12. 
In making submissions and observations, individuals should state their name, address and, where relevant, the body represented. Submissions or observations should be addressed to: Planning, Economic Development and Enterprise Department, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis.
Alternatively, submissions may also be emailed to forwardplan@clarecoco.ie Submissions made via email must include the full name and address of the person making the submission.