SCOPE for “a massive exponential win” exists by aligning upcoming strategies and plans within Clare with the Government’s ‘Town Centre First, a Policy Approach for Irish Towns’, a North Clare representative has outlined.
At a recent sitting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) asked that a workshop be held whereby officials from the management of the Cliffs of Moher, Clare County Council’s tourism section and Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way lead discuss the impact of the ‘Town Centre First; A Policy Approach for Irish Towns’ “will have on existing and future tourism related strategic plans and policies” such as the Clare Tourism Strategy 2030, Cliffs of Moher 2040 Strategy plus the Visitor Experience Plans for the Burren & Cliffs of Moher and the Cliff Coast.
Tourism must be “an important consideration” of the policy, Director of Rural Development, Leonard Cleary acknowledged. Further detail is needed to research the impact of the document on the progression of future tourism related strategic plans, he said, “the methodology for this research needs to have regard to existing structures and avoid duplication”.
On the structures in place, Cleary detailed that the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum were responsible for the Tourism Strategy and the Cliffs of Moher Centre DAC was the steering committee for the Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040. Elected representatives from the West Clare MD sit on the different bodies, he flagged with community, tourism and Fáilte Ireland representation.
Capacity does not exist within the West Clare MD to support another duplicate structure, the Director stated. “The staff capacity involved in developing these strategies at present is significant and administrative prioritisation is required. Having outlined the logistical feasibility of the proposed workshop in the Motion, the West Clare Elected Members will have ample opportunity to input in a meaningful way through the above structures. The West Clare Municipal District office will support the Elected Members in inputting and being briefed fully”.
Lisdoonvarna based, Cllr Garrihy acknowledged the Director’s penchant for delivery. “I see a potential massive exponential win in aligning these strategies to our towns and villages. If I don’t see it, it’s not there”. Many of the tourism assets are in “potential extensive Council ownership,” he said. “I’m looking for a bit of comfort while waiting in the dark for the demons to come,” Garrihy added.
While seconding the motion, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) suggested priority projects be outlined so that the focus and benefits of each would be clear to councillors. Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) observed, “The thrust of the motion is about who is using who, do we use tourism to deliver a town centre first approach or end up with just a tourism product and they are just separate. The County Development Plan is not here, we have to look at every objective in the County Development Plan and what it says for a town centre first approach”.
Addressing the councillors, Cleary committed to having a briefing focused on the delivery for towns and villages in North Clare. The implementation of the policy will require a joint approach and will involve a cross-directorate involvement from the Council, he felt. He referred to examples of the involvement of the Clare Local Development Company, Council planning department and DigiClare in the initiation of Town Teams, the development of the Ennistymon Masterplan and digital hub, a similar model is to be followed in Scariff.
He continued, “A town centre focus is to emerge and I expect an active role for councillors”. On the practice followed at the steering committees working at the strategies, Cleary said, “When a Director is at the meeting of that company they are operating for that community and have a director’s hat on”. He concluded, “I see the tourism side specifically as a catalyst for the local economy”.
