boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council
boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council
boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council
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PART I: INTRODUCTION & CONTEXT Chapter 2: Historic Context, Settlement Policy & Vision<br />
5. Avoid urban sprawl on the edges of the town, and maintain a clear<br />
distinction between urban <strong>area</strong>s and the rural hinterland.<br />
6. Encourage increased public enjoyment of the Boyle River and riverside<br />
<strong>area</strong>s through improved access to a greater range of appropriate public<br />
riverside uses. Enhance the environmental quality, character and views of<br />
this <strong>area</strong>.<br />
7. Strengthen the economic and population base of the <strong>area</strong>, and encourage<br />
retention of the <strong>local</strong> population within the Boyle <strong>area</strong>.<br />
8. Ensure that developments are completed to design and construction<br />
standards that result in a visually and functionally pleasing sustainable<br />
environment.<br />
9. Develop a safer, more efficient and integrated transport, walking and cycling<br />
system, with improvements to the road network.<br />
10. Continue to ensure the quality and quantity of the water supply for;<br />
domestic, industrial, agricultural and other uses, in order to cater sustainably<br />
for the future.<br />
11. Provide and maintain reliable and sustainable surface water and wastewater<br />
disposal systems.<br />
12. Encourage increased public enjoyment of Boyle Harbour and Boyle Canal<br />
through improved access to a greater range of appropriate public<br />
recreational and water-based uses.<br />
It is vital that the strategic aims set out above are delivered in a sustainable manner<br />
and that the economic and residential development of the town will occur in a<br />
balanced fashion, both recognising the need for the town to develop into the future and<br />
ensuring the protection of the unique built and natural heritage of the <strong>area</strong>.<br />
2.6 DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR BOYLE<br />
The Boyle LAP <strong>2012</strong>-<strong>2018</strong> has been prepared at a time of economic uncertainty at<br />
national and global level. The current economic downturn is however an opportunity<br />
to create a vision for the town that will not only facilitate recovery but will seek to<br />
ensure that this recovery takes place in a coherent, sustainable manner for the benefit<br />
of the town, county and region. The vision should also extend beyond the six years<br />
of this <strong>plan</strong> and into the future. It would be advantageous for the <strong>local</strong> community<br />
and civic leaders to adopt this vision and ensure that the strategic aims are<br />
progressed into the future.<br />
An all encompassing development strategy for the proper <strong>plan</strong>ning and sustainable<br />
development of Boyle Town and environs has been prepared based on an analysis of<br />
social, economic, infrastructural, environmental and heritage data. Key objectives in<br />
this LAP include; amongst others, enhancement and development of the town core;<br />
identification of lands suitable for the expansion of community facilities; and the<br />
intensification and rationalisation of the existing residential footprint of the town.<br />
The wide range of recreational and cultural attractions on offer within the Boyle <strong>area</strong><br />
and its environs is one of the town’s greatest strengths. The importance of the Boyle<br />
River, Boyle Harbour and the close proximity of the Lough Key Forest & Activity<br />
Park at Rockingham to the town can not be overstated. RCC recognises that the<br />
provision of high quality cultural and recreational facilities is important, not only for<br />
the well-being of the <strong>local</strong> community in Boyle, but also for attracting new<br />
residents, new employers and visitors. The town will therefore continue to invest in<br />
new and existing cultural, leisure, sports and tourism facilities.<br />
There is a strong sense of community in Boyle, which is very important to the<br />
town’s residents and frequent visitors. This should be fostered as the town grows<br />
through voluntary initiatives, the <strong>local</strong> arts scene and cultural and recreational<br />
events, which RCC will support.<br />
The accessibility and quality of employment, educational, recreational and cultural<br />
facilities to all citizens in Boyle is imperative. The needs of persons with disability,<br />
the young, the old and disadvantaged will be considered when <strong>plan</strong>ning new<br />
facilities. Pedestrian and cycle routes will be designed to ensure the town is<br />
significantly more accessible on foot or bicycle.<br />
As outlined below, there is also great potential to implement a bicycle sharing scheme<br />
in the <strong>area</strong>. Through traffic should be diverted around the town while new residential<br />
<strong>area</strong>s and the town centre will increasingly be structured to give predominance to the<br />
pedestrian or cyclist rather than vehicles.<br />
Boyle Local Area Plan <strong>2012</strong>-<strong>2018</strong> Page 12