This article is from page 30 of the 2007-06-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
PLANS for a major overhaul of Shannon ‘own Centre, to include a traditional streetscape, have been drawn up – they will go to the public and key stakeholders in the town, to allow them to have an input into the finished product.
The aim is to create a new ‘urban retail environment’ and a ‘living cen- tre’, a task described as ‘challenging’ by the firm of architects overseeing the project.
The plans – for a site across the road from SkyCourt – include a develop- ment focused on ‘people-orientated places’ with ‘daytime and evening vibrancy’, featuring a mix of town
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A presentation on the plans was made by Murray O’Laoire architects to town councillors last week. Vari- ous stakeholders, including council- lors, the business sector and local groups, will be consulted, before a draft design will be put on public dis- play later in the year. A public infor- mation evening will also be held.
Senior Urban Designer with Mur- ray O’Laoire, Daibhi Mac Domhnaill told councillors the plans – if imple- mented – would add to the image of the town and would “redefine how people view the town”.
“The objective would be to have a draft plan by September 2007 and if itis approved, it would go forward for
adoption,’ said Mr Mac Domhnaill.
“You would like to make the town centre accessible for young teens and elderly. There should be routes that would be safe at day time and after dark,” he said.
“Shannon hasn’t a great street- scape,’ he added, to responses from councillors who pointed out that there are no streets in the town.
“That is something we would want to bring to the project,” he contin- ued.
John Murray, of Murray O’Laoire told councillors the biggest challenge was to “integrate it successfully with the existing town centre”.
Clare County Council Senior Exec- utive Engineer (planning), John Bra-
dley said the council was working on a “very tight schedule”.
“There are a couple of major plan- ning applications in at the moment. Developers don’t waste time. We want to get it right. We are looking at something that will bring devel- Opers in and who want to develop in this area. This is going to be the hub of your town. At the moment a large amount of employees don’t use the town for shopping,’ he said.
He said that the land in question is owned by four landowners – the main one which is Clare County Council – all of who are being consulted with.
‘We have to flesh out what is possi- ble. What will attract the investors to invest in Shannon?” he asked.