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 II: DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR <strong>2012</strong> – <strong>2018</strong> & BEYOND Chapter 7: Economic Development & Employment<br />
Policy 61<br />
Support the RCDB in its liaison with the IDA to<br />
promote foreign direct investment and the<br />
establishment of new employment opportunities in the<br />
LAP <strong>area</strong>.<br />
Objectives for Future Employment, Enterprise &<br />
Economic Strategy<br />
Objective 93<br />
In consolidating the urban form, support the location of<br />
quality employment and residential developments in<br />
proximity to each other in order to reduce the need to<br />
travel and the dependence on private transport.<br />
Objective 94<br />
Ensure that the infrastructure and services in the LAP<br />
<strong>area</strong> are sustainably developed and upgraded to a level<br />
that can support increased economic activity.<br />
7.2.1 Environmental Quality/Amenity<br />
The environmental quality of Boyle is generally good<br />
and it has an attractive townscape, although the town is<br />
dilapidated and run down in parts. Patrick Street in<br />
particular suffers from large <strong>area</strong>s of dereliction and<br />
there are clear opportunities for significant<br />
redevelopment at this location. There are a number of<br />
attractive traditional shop fronts in the town, although<br />
the maintenance of these and some of the upper floors<br />
of premises is sometimes poor. As in most Irish Towns<br />
the quality of streetscapes have suffered from the<br />
increasing use of PVC/Aluminium windows on the<br />
upper floors of Georgian and Victorian properties.<br />
It is evident that the town was once an important market<br />
centre, a role which has somewhat declined. The town<br />
has experienced limited investment in recent years. Its<br />
development has been somewhat impeded by<br />
competing centres in the vicinity such as Carrick-on-<br />
Shannon and Sligo, which have experienced significant<br />
growth and expansion in their retail sector in recent<br />
years. Furthermore there has been substantial retail<br />
investment in Cortober, on the outskirts of Carrick-on-<br />
Shannon.<br />
As detailed above, the River Boyle is a focal point of<br />
the town. The <strong>area</strong> in the immediate vicinity of the<br />
River is however, run down and in decline. There is<br />
little frontage onto the river, and thus poor passive<br />
surveillance of this predominantly pedestrian <strong>area</strong>. The<br />
surface treatment of pathways along the river is poor.<br />
There are several pedestrian links from the River <strong>area</strong><br />
through to Main Street and the Mace car park off<br />
Carrick Road. However, due to the degraded<br />
environment of these routes they are unattractive and<br />
uninviting.<br />
Wirescape in the town is generally good and although<br />
there was poor provision of litter receptacles in the<br />
town centre <strong>area</strong>, litter management is generally good.<br />
The town also has an attractive public lighting scheme.<br />
Policies for Environmental Quality/Amenity<br />
Policy 62<br />
Maintain good air quality and acceptable noise levels<br />
within the town.<br />
Policy 63<br />
Implement the provisions of National legislation and<br />
EU Directives on air and noise pollution in conjunction<br />
with other agencies, as appropriate.<br />
Policy 64<br />
Support public transport and non-motorised<br />
transportation as a key measure to reduce <strong>local</strong>ly<br />
generated air pollutants.<br />
Objectives for Environmental Quality/Amenity<br />
Objective 95<br />
Encourage landscaping and tree <strong>plan</strong>ting as a means of<br />
air purification, the filtering of suspended particles and<br />
the improvement of the town’s micro-climate.<br />
Objective 96<br />
Upgrade visual aspects of the approach roads to the<br />
town.<br />
Objective 97<br />
Encourage <strong>local</strong> community involvement in the<br />
upgrading and improvement of open space, to add a<br />
sense of place and provide improved <strong>area</strong>s for the<br />
residents and visitors.<br />
Objective 98<br />
Seek to improve the provision of litter receptacles in the<br />
town centre.<br />
7.2.2 Retail & Commercial Development<br />
Boyle is an important retail and commercial centre<br />
serving the northern parts of <strong>County</strong> <strong>Roscommon</strong> and<br />
accommodates a limited range of uses. These include; a<br />
small variety of pubs, restaurants, cafes, banks, and<br />
convenience stores, amongst others. The railway station<br />
is located within close proximity to the town centre and<br />
there are several financial institutions and service<br />
providers disbursed throughout the town. The town also<br />
has an important tourism function due to the presence<br />
of Boyle Abbey, King House, Boyle Harbour and it’s<br />
Boyle Local Area Plan <strong>2012</strong>-<strong>2018</strong> Page 93