Keeping up appearances

A NEW scheme aimed at rejuvenating the physical appearance of nine towns and villages across County Clare has been revealed.

Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), in association with Clare County Council, is encouraging local community groups and individuals to register their interest in the Clare Villages And Towns 2012: Your Place, Your Space initiative by attending a seminar in Quin Community Hall on Saturday, May 12, from 9.30am to 1pm.
Following the event, local groups will be invited to apply to be one of nine towns selected to receive additional expert guidance and mentoring from Cunnane Stratton Reynolds (CSR) Landscape Architects & Town Planning consultants.
CSR will assist the groups to critically examine their town or village, identify opportunities to improve and enhance their urban and landscape environments, and draw up three-year action plans to do so. 
“The purpose of this unique scheme is to stimulate and encourage County Clare communities to further enhance the physical appearance of their town, while at the same time complement existing initiatives such as Pride of Place, Tidy Towns and Clare in Bloom,” explained Gerard Kennedy, enterprise and rural development manager, CLDC. 
“The programme will assist community groups to improve their local environment through the development of a strategic three-year plan for their area. A productive working relationship will be fostered between community groups, CSR, CLDC and Clare County Council,” he said.
The development of a Tidy Towns plan will include a series of projects suitable for funding under the LEADER Rural Development Programme 2007-13, including village renewal and development, conservation and upgrading of rural heritage and encouragement of tourism activities.
Ennis is excluded under the scheme as the town is not eligible for LEADER rural funding,
According to Keith Mitchell, associate director, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds, “It will be our role to assist community groups in the identification and selection of appropriate projects.
“The programme will be delivered over a 12-month period. Through the promotion of and participation in the initiative, we will be able to assist local groups in nine county towns identify suitable projects to enhance the local environment, as well as their physical and infrastructural development.”
The Clare Villages and Towns Seminar will be addressed by officials from Cunnane Stratton Reynolds, Tidy Towns adjudicator, Dr Christy Boylan and a representative of Fáilte Ireland.
Further information on the Clare Villages And Towns 2012: Your Place, Your Space scheme is available from CSR on 093 60854 or claretidytowns@csrlandplan.ie.