€17 million funding sought for ambitious Clonmel town centre regeneration projects
Deputy Seamus Healy urges early approval to allow projects to proceed
An ambitious €17 million plan to rejuvenate the town centre of Clonmel has been submitted to the Government.
Funding for two separate projects would transform Clonmel town centre, which has been hit in recent years by significant closures of established retail outlets and high vacancy and dereliction levels.
Applications for funding by Tipperary County Council were made before the Friday, May 1, deadline for a €10 million scheme that would take in O’Connell Street from the West Gate to the Main Guard and would also include Mitchell Street, Abbey Street and Bank Lane.
A separate application was made for a €7million project in Gladstone Street. That project would consist of the creation of a plaza-style public realm space and the development of a museum at the former DW Parke’s chemist and opticians premises and the Landmark Trust occupation of the upper floors of that building. The project would be contained in the area between the laneway to the side of Easons and up to the Place4U building, and up to the edge of Kickham Street.
The applications for funding were made under the towns and cities regeneration investment fund.
“Approval for this project is of vital importance for the consolidation and development of the town.It is a shovel ready project. With Part 8 consultation complete,” said Deputy Seamus Healy.
Early approval by the Government of a €17 million plan to rejuvenate Clonmel is essential, according to Deputy Seamus Healy.
Tipperary County Council is seeking funding for two projects in Clonmel under the towns and cities regeneration investment fund.
“Clonmel town centre requires considerable refurbishment, having been hit by changes in retail trends and a resulting closure of businesses, including long-standing family businesses. Approval of this project is of vital importance for the consolidation and development of the town. It is a shovel-ready project, with Part 8 consultation complete. The town has an excellent record of completing schemes such as this on time and under budget. These include schemes such as Kickham Plaza and the sports hub,” said Deputy Healy.
The €10million O’Connell Street project would involve significant pedestrianisation, replacement of pavements, and creation of public realm space with street furniture.
A separate application was made for a €7million project in Gladstone Street the main feature of which is the development of a museum at the former DW Parke’s building.
Deputy Seamus Healy, who raised the issue of vacancy and dereliction in Clonmel in the Dáil, said that Clonmel had been hit recently by the closure of long-standing family businesses.
“The likes of Clinton’s and Moroney’s Shoes were institutions in the town. It was a shock to see them closed, and now the buildings are empty, which affects footfall in the town and the vibrancy of the place. The whole situation about the Clonmel Arms does not help, and the vacancies in Dunnes and Heatons in O’ Connell Street are a big issue. The vacancies are a serious blight on the town centre, I think Dunnes should be in a position to open a mini market of some kind in their building in O’Connell Street,” said Deputy Healy.