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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

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