15.06.2014 Views

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

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

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!