boyle local area plan 2012 - 2018 - Roscommon County Council

PART II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2012 – 2018 & BEYOND Chapter 5: Recreation, Leisure & Tourism
The Harbour and canalside also provides an attractive location for holiday
accommodation which could further boost the demand for local services. The
potential holiday accommodation component of this development should be
specifically designed to ensure a wide mix of occupancy. It should be designed and
sized to suit families as well as couples, sharers and sole occupants staying in a secure
environment. There should also be safe play areas for children in the development,
which applies sustainable development principles throughout.
area, is seen as a primary reason for introducing the proposed Bicycle Sharing
Scheme in Boyle. It is considered that the provision of bike stations at Boyle Harbour,
the town centre and Lough Key could greatly improve linkages and boost tourism in
the area. Figure 4 in Chapter 2 illustrates a potential main route for the proposed
Bicycle Sharing Scheme in Boyle.
New development in this area should have a special quality appropriate to its context;
it should include uses which enhance enjoyment of the Harbour and Canal, Lough
Key and wider Shannon-Erne Waterway. Development should maintain or improve
important views of the Harbour, the Canal, and the surrounding countryside. RCC
recognises that improved access to and from the Harbour/Canal can enhance public
safety. RCC will promote safety measures, such as the provision of grab-chains,
ladders and life rings at the harbour and along the canalside, where appropriate.
Boyle Harbour has the potential to form a key part of further tourism development in
Boyle. Development in the Harbour area should be high quality and RCC will ensure
that developments which could affect this area have bulk, massing, scale and an
appearance which is appropriate to its surroundings. Single and two storey buildings
will be considered in this area. Development should consider the existing character of
the area and significant developments within this area should be accompanied by a
design statement showing how the proposal relates to the harbour/canalside context.
Particular attention should be paid to:
‣ Lighting of developments which takes into consideration the character of the area
and mooring of boats
‣ Siting, size and nature of advertising material which is appropriate to its setting
‣ Free pedestrian movement along the riverside as well as to the harbour, town
centre and adjoining areas such as Lough Key Forest and Activity Park.
Careful attention to details such as lighting, surface materials, soft and hard
landscaping, seating, signage, and the inclusion of features which enhance
pedestrian/cycle linkages and the environmental attractiveness of the area will be
encouraged. The provision of public art in this area should also be encouraged.
As outlined in Chapter 2, improving linkages between Boyle Harbour, the town
centre and Lough Key Forest and Activity Park, in order to increase tourism in the
Figure 7: Boyle Harbour
Any development proposal on the subject lands may require the support of a
comprehensive Strategic Transport Assessment (STA) addressing these lands at preplanning
stage, so that it informs the type and scale of any development proposal. The
STA may also be required to demonstrate that the safety and carrying capacity of the
N61 National Primary Route will not be compromised. Any development proposal
shall provide for improvements to the Road Network and associated junctions and
phasing of any development to ensure that there will be little or no negative impact on
the safety and carrying capacity of the N61.
Boyle Local Area Plan 2012-2018 Page 47