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Kildare County Council publishes Castledermot Small Town Renewal Master Plan
Cllr Brian Dooley, Cllr Aoife Breslin, Cathaoirleach of the Athy MD, Cllr Veralouise Behan, Annette Aspell, Director of Services, Kildare CoCo, Pamela Pender, Senior Executive Officer, Kildare CoCo
Reporter:
Daragh Nolan
13 Mar 2024 2:50 PM
Kildare County Council has today published a Master Plan for the future development of Castledermot, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
The plan sets out a renewal framework for the sustainable development of Castledermot over the next 20 years, highlighting exciting and ambitious plans to enhance the livability of the small town environment, improve pedestrian and cyclist connections and safety, with a particular emphasis on enhanced biodiversity and greening of the small town.
The town renewal master plan for Castledermot was commissioned by Kildare County council and was led by Brady Shipman Martin. Consultation and collaboration were central to the development of the plan, with input and knowledge from those who know the town best including local residents, as well as a dedicated study in Technological University Dublin by a group of Urban Regeneration and Development Masters students, as well as professional guidance from the design team. The plan aims to support the renewal and regeneration of the town, to create an attractive and thriving commercial and social centre in which to live, work and visit.
The plan sets out several key Delivery Projects, including:
Public Realm Design – Comprehensive planning and design of public and private streetscape elements to help establish a cohesive character and a strong, more distinctive identity for Castledermot.
Castledermot Heritage – Celebrate the rich heritage of Castledermot by enhancing visual accessibility to and around the town centre as well as elevating the status of several historic sites throughout the town and the development of a dedicated heritage trail.
Vacancy & Dereliction – Activate under-utilized and derelict buildings & sites, helping to transform the town centre into a vibrant, attractive, and consolidated town centre, whilst protecting and enhancing the built heritage and unique natural setting of the town
Market Square – The plan includes a series of recommendations and potential projects for Market Square, including surfacing and realigned paved pedestrian crossings, landscaping, square materials and furniture upgrade, dedicated parking, and new landscaping.
Main Street – The plan also includes several key recommendations for the development of the main street including improvements to the streetscape, widen footpaths, new landscaping, reducing on-street parking where appropriate and improved wayfinding and street art.
St James’ Church/Church Lane – Recommendations include a potential one way/local access street in conjunction with future traffic management study, paved surface, new seating and a proposed footpath.
Walking/Cycling potential at the Green & River Lerr – Some of the key recommendations for this area include exploring options for walking/cycling green route along The Green and River Lerr as well as the introduction of consistent street lighting and furniture and exploring options for one-way street or low traffic/limited vehicular access shared street environment.
Fairgreen Town Park – The plan sets out recommendations to continue to develop the remaining elements of the town park as well as the provision of footpaths and street lighting and enhancing the town park as a multi-use passive recreation area with sports, activity and event hub.
Scoil Diarmada School Zone – Consideration to be given to an integrated design to remove or reduce traffic volumes, reduce speeds, discourage set down and provide alternative and attractive means of travel to school.
Cathaoirleach of the Athy Municipal District, Councillor Veralouise Behan welcomed the plan, she said, “I am delighted to welcome the publication of the Castledermot Town Renewal Masterplan, an exciting and ambitious document providing a route for the improvement and development of Castledermot.”
“I look forward to the proposals within this plan being pursued and seeing Castledermot deliver on all its vibrant potential.”
Speaking about the plan, Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council said, “The publication of a Masterplan for Castledermot is the culmination of the work and effort by Kildare County Council in collaboration with a dedicated and collaborative community. We very much welcome the launch of the Castledermot Town Renewal Master Plan. This plan will guide the sustainable growth of the town and we look forward to seeing the renewal of the town.”
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