elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Chapter 10: Development Management Guidelines and Standards<br />
10.17.6 Recreation (To be read in conjunction with Chapter 8)<br />
The <strong>Council</strong> attaches great importance to the retention and creation of <strong>area</strong>s of recreational and amenity<br />
open space. It is important for physical and mental health that everyone, particularly children, the elderly<br />
and those with disabilities should have easy access to public open space. Recreation forms an important<br />
component of life and encompasses many activities with major land use implications. The <strong>Council</strong><br />
recognizes the increasing concern felt by many communities that open space with recreational and<br />
amenity value should be protected from development and adequate provision made for future use.<br />
It will be important to ensure that adequate recreational facilities are available in conjunction with, or even<br />
ahead of, new housing development. In particular, provision should be made for both <strong>local</strong> and regional<br />
scale parks, where these do not already exist. In addition to outdoor recreational facilities, there is a<br />
demand for high quality indoor recreational facilities both to meet current demand and to facilitate future<br />
population growth. The natural environment should be promoted as an accessible amenity for sport and<br />
recreational activity having due regard for safety and issues of environmental sustainability.<br />
1. Sports<br />
The <strong>Council</strong> recognises that sport is an essential component of everyday life, playing a valuable social,<br />
cultural and economic role, providing enjoyment for people, a livelihood for some, and promoting a<br />
healthy lifestyle. The <strong>Council</strong> is committed to enhancing the range and quality of sports facilities and to<br />
ensuring that there is reasonable public access to sports facilities.<br />
2. Play/ Recreation Opportunities for Children<br />
The promotion and provision of children’s recreation facilities is vital in adding to the provision of<br />
accessible, <strong>local</strong> amenity space. The provision of a child friendly environment will be promoted in<br />
accordance with the <strong>Roscommon</strong> <strong>County</strong> Play Policy 2005-2008 and ‘Ready, Steady, Play-A National<br />
Play Policy’ (2004) by the National Children’s Office (see also Section 9.4 Community Facilities which<br />
addresses objectives contained within the <strong>Roscommon</strong> Play Policy 2005 – 2008).<br />
3. Outdoor events<br />
The <strong>Council</strong> shall promote and facilitate the hosting of outdoor events throughout the county. The <strong>Council</strong><br />
will ensure that they comply with the provisions of Part XVI of the Planning and Development Act 2000-<br />
2004.<br />
4. Cycling and walking<br />
The <strong>County</strong> <strong>Council</strong> will address the need to encourage walking and cycling by ensuring that safe cycle<br />
ways and footpaths are provided as part of all new and existing development <strong>area</strong>s, as resources allow.<br />
The <strong>Council</strong> will also facilitate the improvements which need to be made to the Sli na Slainte walking<br />
routes throughout the county. In addition, through better design incorporating current thinking and best<br />
practice from experience in other locations, more people friendly places can be created. In <strong>area</strong>s already<br />
developed which are experiencing traffic problems, it will be necessary to work with existing<br />
infrastructure in order to create an improved environment.<br />
5. Swimming Pools/ Leisure Centers<br />
The public swimming pools in <strong>Roscommon</strong> and Castlerea are important sources of recreational activity. In<br />
addition to public swimming pools, many of the larger hotels now have leisure centres which include gym<br />
facilities and swimming pools and this offers additional choice to the paying public. These facilities<br />
Elphin Local Area Plan <strong>2009</strong>-<strong>2015</strong> Page 138