elphin local area plan 2009 - 2015 - Roscommon County Council

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