boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council

PART II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2012 – 2018 & BEYOND Chapter 5: Recreation, Leisure & Tourism
‣ The enhancement of the local specialised food and
cottage industries.
‣ Improved promotion and marketing of local cultural
events and facilities such as the Boyle Arts Festival,
its programme of classical music with concerts,
Boyle Civic Collection, amongst others.
‣ Provision of additional accommodation choices
within the town, in particular the development of a
new high quality hotel on lands zoned for Leisure
Tourism (west of the N61), illustrated on Map 12.
‣ Build upon the many attractions offered in the
Lough Key Forest & Activity Park.
‣ Appropriate development and improved promotion
of Boyle Harbour which offers Shannon river
cruiser holiday-makers berthing just 1km from
Boyle town.
‣ Boyle Harbour – Integrated Tourism
Development
The development of lands identified for
tourism/recreational development at Boyle Harbour (see
Figure 6 below) as part of an integrated tourism
development is one of the key elements of this LAP.
RCC recognises the functional importance of Boyle
Harbour and Canal as a physical connection to Lough
Key and the greater Shannon-Erne Waterway, as a
setting for appropriate development, as an open area, an
ecological resource, and as a recreational, leisure and
tourist facility. An integrated tourism venture, based on
a high quality harbour mixed use development
providing appropriate leisure, recreational, open space
and water based facilities will be supported and assisted
in developing a core product. This area is therefore
identified as a Key Development Area in the Preferred
Development Strategy for Boyle (see Chapter 2).
In order to maximise the tourism potential of Boyle
Harbour and Canal to the town it is considered that this
area is developed for appropriate leisure tourism use.
As outlined in Chapter 2, transforming Boyle Harbour
into an area that is more attractive for visitors and
residents will be of significant benefit to the Boyle area.
The Council envisages a high quality integrated harbour
mixed-use development with improved pedestrian and
vehicular links to the town centre. The development
could provide the following land uses, amongst others:
‣ Café
‣ Pub/restaurant
‣ Leisure facilities
‣ Water based outdoor/recreational pursuits
‣ Open space
‣ Civic social amenity/community clubs
‣ Ground floor retail use
‣ Holiday accommodation
‣ Artisan and crafts quarter
‣ Visitor Information Centre
‣ Boat maintenance
‣ Showers & laundry
‣ Improved public access along the canal
‣ Additional car parking and picnic facilities
‣ Additional water, power points and pump-out
facilities for boat users
‣ Sufficient waste disposal facilities and services
‣ Safe play areas for children
The development of the lands immediately surrounding
the harbour should form part of Phase 1 of any
development proposal on these lands. The Council will
consider ancillary uses, appropriate to the core use as
further “add-on” facilities. RCC will require uses in this
area that are appropriate for lands zoned Leisure
Tourism (see chapter 8) and enhance the vitality of the
area.
Public use and enjoyment of the Harbour and Canal can
be enhanced by the establishment of a range of public
uses and attractions in this area. Therefore opportunities
should be taken to incorporate an appropriate mix of
public uses, especially on the lower floors of proposed
buildings fronting and near the Harbour. The provision
of a mix of appropriate uses within the development of
this area will increase the potential of the Harbour and
canalside to become a focus of water-based and other
recreational activities and events. Facilities such as
recreational accommodation, arts, cultural and
entertainment facilities, shopping, catering and
amenities for visitors would increase awareness and use
of the Harbour and canalside. Such uses would become
increasingly attractive as public access to the area is
maximised through the development of quality and
legible public access links, which link to the Harbour,
the town centre and Lough Key Forest and Activity
Park, significantly boosting the number of people
walking, cycling and boating in the area.
Multi-lingual signage/information at the harbour,
clearly indicating local attractions, facilities and
services would be extremely useful. Careful positioning
of such information would be of great benefit to both
visitors by water and by land. An open-sided roofed
area with picnic and BBQ facilities along the canalside
could provide an area for waterway users to eat and
relax etc. off their boats in wet weather, providing
another reason to spend longer in the area.
The construction of a small ‘band stand’ in this area
could also be considered, subject to health and safety
concerns. Such an amenity area could encourage people
to play music, and enjoy this harbour area.
Boyle Local Area Plan 2012-2018 Page 46