*Photograph: Martin Connolly
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL have submitted the application for RRDF funding for a town centre regeneration project in Scariff.
Development of a car park plus public realm works in the Market Square and the construction of a multi-service innovation and engagement hub are part of the Scariff Regeneration Project.
In November, councillors in the Killaloe MD agreed to the finalised application which had received 24 submissions from the public since consultation began in July. The project received an allocation of €524,000 in an application for the Rural Regeneration Development Fund in January 2022.
Senior planner with Clare County Council, Brian McCarthy confirmed that a “significant” RRDF application has been submitted by the local authority to the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Speeding from Mountshannon to Tuamgraney had been flagged by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) with the senior planner advising that colleagues in the design team of the County Council were looking at “a variety of measures on traffic calming and increased mobility”. He said a finalised design would be prepared by the end of 2024 and would be delivered in tandem with the regeneration project for Scariff that will ‘enhance’ the market square.
Short-term measures need to be applied, Cllr Hayes stated. “I’m not happy we’re not doing something in the short-term, put up road markings or something to improve the connectivity,” he replied.
At the March Killaloe MD meeting, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) asked the Council to upgrade or paint the road markings in the centre of Scariff “including the disabled driver space outside of Scariff Medical Centre”.
Acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe MD, Declan Flanagan advised that the RRDF category 1 funding application is “for a significant town centre regeneration project which includes the upgrading of the public realm and car-parking provision in the town centre of Scariff. Subject to the receipt of RRDF funding, works will involve new road and footpath surfaces, enhancements to parking arrangements and layout and improvements to pedestrian and accessibility.
“It is also noted that Uisce Éireann also have been permitted a Road Opening License for the installation of new water mains from The Market Square junction with the R-461 Feakle Junction to Church Street. On both potential projects, line markings will be altered or changed. Whilst in general, there is merit in awaiting the completion of the public realm enhancements and water mains work prior to upgrading existing line markings, in the interim having regard to the medical and accessibility issues raised in this Notice of Motion, Killaloe MD will commit to line marking works adjacent to the medical centre and STOP text and line markings on approach roads at Market Square as soon as possible”.
Cllr Burke expressed his hope that the RRDF application would be successful. “The line markings are well worn, it is the centre of the town and where pedestrians are crossing, I was up there crossing the other day myself”.
Improving the line markings are “vitally important,” Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) stressed. “I did raise an issue when the supermarket in Tuamgraney closed a few months ago, it is not a public car park but is used a good bit,” he said of the further deficit of car parking in the locality. “Nilands is a big loss,” Cooney added.
