Carrick-On-Suir Tourism & Economic Development Committee

(Redacted Personal Information)

Submission to County Development Plan

Issues Paper: Pre-Draft Stage

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached: • Pre-Draft submission by Carrick-on-Suir Tourism and Economic Development Committee: Detailed Submission

• Summary of Carrick on Suir "Vision 2030" Strategic Plan

We welcome any queries on our submission.

(Redacted Personal Information)

(Redacted Personal Information), Carrick-on-Suir Tourism and Economic Development Committee (COSTEDC)

CARRICK-ON-SU IR VISION 2O3O

Carrick-on-Suir is a busy market town of just The fact that Carrick-on-Suir is a gateway over 5,000 people located in Tipperary close town for Munster Vales*, is close to the to Waterford and Kilkenny in a strong waterford Greenway, to curragmore and to agricultural area. The Lingaun Valley-all new attractions- illustrates the opportunity to be grasped. The town has an extensive, thriving retail r(Munster Vales is a major inter-county tourism initiative sector. MSD's world class pharma facility is linking the Comeraghs, Galtees, Knockmealdows, Nagles and just 8 km from town. Many town residents Ballyhoura) commute to Clonmel, Waterford and other The OPW upgraded Ormond Castle, the finest larger towns. There are a number of thriving Tudor Manor in lreland: creating a state of the industrial estates within the town curtilage. art interpretation offering of its most famous The town has an active cultural life: Theatre, resident, Black Tom Butler, and significantly enhancing the visitor experience. Light Opera and, as home of the Clancy Brothers, traditional music. lts sporting heroes The Heritage Centre building, located just off include Sean Kelly and now Sam Bennet in Main Street, has been refurbished and plans cycling with every sport catered for. have been created to develop an interactive interpretation Carrick-on-Suir's Vision 2030 was published in of the town's history, culture, commerce and sport costing 2016 following an extensive process of local over €0.5 million workshops informed by experts and examples Central Display with Four Cabinets/Displays from other locations in lreland. Cabinet display commentary on handsets-multi language I

! "The vision for Corrick-on-Suir is o thriving town $ with o diverse economy building on its heritage I ond confident of its future. I I The mission I is to moke Carrick-on-Suir on ottroctive i aicM+w*@b town to visit, to live in and for work and shopping; a o place where new and existing entrepreneurs ore encouroged and supported; where tourism is ln 2O79, Tipperary Tourism launched the Suir significantly increased ond where training and Blueway creating a walking and cycling facility employment opportunities are octively generoted" linking Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir and enabling river activity as far as Ardfinnan. A key theme of Vision 2O3O was the Usage of the Blueway has been high and plans preservation of the town centre as an active are now afoot by Tipperary County Council to location for commerce and recreation. ln this design an enhanced link for the Blueway with regard, the town has an advantage in that it the town centre and Ormond Castle. avoided the hollowing out that many urban areas experienced during the Celtic Tiger. Tipperary Co Co also have specific public realm plans to improve traffic, parking and Vision 2030 originally comprised 13 projects streetscape at the west end of Main Street to achieve its goals. including Sean Kelly Square. A further Significant progress has already been made on streetscape improvement project will link the the nine projects/initiatives planned for the main car park at New Street to Ormond first 5 years of the timeframe. Castle.

On the tourism front, a plan has been agreed On the economic development front, with Tipperary Tourism, Failte lreland, the COSTEDC has just opened Phase 1 of The Office of Public Works and local interests to Stable Lane Digital Hub in the Municipal increase visitor numbers by a factor 5 worth District HQ building. COTEDC is actively an annual €500,000 to the local economy. pursuing Phase 2 to create a total of over 60

Carrick-on-Suir Economic Development 2040 CLG, Regd Office: 10 New Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary CARRICK-ON-SUIR VISION 2O3O work spaces. While hot desking is a very 2. Commercial management of the important facility to enable remote working, town's enterprise and retail our primary objective is to act as incubator to opportunities. develop new or expanded small businesses 3. Expenses incurred in the start-up of leading to job and wealth creation. the Digital Hub

COSTEDC has been actively engaging with the A seminal public meeting was held in March lrish diaspora in the UK and are members of a 2019 to outline the level of funding needed to number of business networks which will assist support Vision 2030. A summary is set out with our enterprise growth goals such as the below. lrish lnternational Business Network (llBN), The British lrish Trading Alliance (BITA) and Funding Summary (€,000) (Over 3 Years) the National Association of Community Stabte Lan€ Heritage Ctr/ Enterprise Centres (NACEC) Tourism Dev ?5C lct00 loan 690 650 The town has seen significant additional GnnB 20 600 020 improvements last 5 years: a new state C.plb! ro b. nlild ta, 150 5ro in the ItbrldrE€rptrC rto 2!0 im of the art secondary school and the re- C I I I purposing of the old school as an adult education facility, the provision of a Such a sum is obviously a challenge. A community Medical Centre and the detailed fundraising and recognition plan has refurbishment of the former Town Hall as the been created with a couple of streams: new HQ for the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal 1,. Local individuals and businesses District. 2. Large localcompanies The umbrella body for Vision 2030, Carrick- 3. National figures with a link to or on-Suir Economic and Development interest in Carrick-on-Suir Committee (COSTEDC) has championed the 4. UK &US/Canada based lrish diaspora need to promote the town's attractions and To ensure the success of this fundraising have created a fundraising plan to provide effort, we have engaged a professional UK that support. based lrish fundraiser. While every effort is made to obtain grant The creation of Carrick-on-Suir Vision 2030 is funding from Tipperary Co Co, Failte lreland, a great example of private, voluntary and Leader, Enterprise lreland and similar sources, public partnership. Over 30 organisations most capital projects require 20o/o match have been involved with us to develop Vision funding and there are very limited grant 2030 to this point. funding towards day to day operating expenses. Carrick-on-Suir Tourism & Economic Development Committee will make One of the unique features of Vision 2030 was submissions to Pre-Draft stage of the County !he rcqognition that in addition to capital Development Plans for Tipperary, Kilkenny funding, the full realisation of the growth and and Waterford improvement opportunities required ongoing expense in key areas:

L. Management of the Heritage Centre and active promotion of tourism in the town and its hinterland

Carrick-on-Suir Economic Development 2O4O CLG, Regd Office: 10 New Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary Carrick-On-Suir Tourism & Economic Development Committee

The Heritage centre, Main street, carrick-on-Suir, county Tipperary Submission to County Development plan

lssues Paper: Pre-Draft Stage

Shaping our Future

We attach a summary of the Carrick-on-Suir's "Vision 2O3O" which was published in late 2016. This plan outlines our vision and mission to be realised through some 13 projects aimed at ensuring the centre of Carrick-on-Suir is the best town to live for living, shopping, business and visiting.

Our key objective would be to ensure that the County Development Plan supports our Vision 2030 in its goals and action plans.

"The vision for Carrick-on-Suir is a thriving town with a diverse economy buitding on its heritoge ond confident of its future.

The mission is to make Carrick-on-Suir an ottroctive town to visit, to tive in and for work and shopping; o place where new and existing entrepreneurs are encouroged and supported; where tourism is significontly increosed ond where troining and employment opportunities ore octively generated"

What Guides the Plan

Southern Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy

The above strategy identifies Clonmel, Nenagh and Thurles as "Key Towns". We submit that a similar designation is needed for Carrick-on-Suir and similar sized towns so their needs and potential contribution to future growth and development are sufficiently recognised and funded.

People and Places

Vitality of Towns

We recognize the unfortunate decline in population in towns like Carrick-on-Suir and are hopeful for the projected increase in Tipperary's overall population growth. We see the Housing Strategy as being a big factor in the future for our town. While there is no easy answer to ensure the vitality and vibrancy of our towns, we believe that a good start would be to encourage more businesses into the town centre. Provide enhanced financial support and incentives for town centre business. Source funding for town centre businesses enhancement. ln regards to attracting new residents, Carrick-on-Suir needs attractive houses for people and families, along with a vibrant Main Street. We need to make sure that there are proper plans for housing, which are very attractive for people. lt's not just about putting down houses, we need really well designed, wellthought out housing estates that have as much pedestrian access to the town as possible. The combination of attractive housing and business opportunity would greatly contribute to the economic growth of the town.

RuralAreas

Each rural area should be looked at, each county should have its own planning plan for its rural areas. Each area should have its own planning plan.

The planning guidelines for the farming families and families that have established roots in rural communities and areas should be such that its straight forward to know where and under what circumstances they can build houses. They shouldn't be subject to the national planning guidelines, they should be under County Council development guidelines

Each County Council should have its own planning plans so that if it needs it to be altered to take on board that an older person needs someone to look after them, that this can be accomplished. Rather than sticking them into a nursing home, make it a viable option for them to have family living next door to help take care of them, ensuring safe and engaging living environments as we age.

Economy, Enterprise and Regeneration

Urban Living and Place-Making

The living accommodation on the Main Street, to the greatest extent possible, should be revitalized for living in. Revisit the protected structure rules, fire rules etc. (National lssue/County Council CEO Level) so that it is simple to re-purpose living accommodation above retail premises on our streets. Give incentives for people to live over their shops. The costs under current regulations that people have to go through to get approval for planning, including doubt and delay are nonsensical and are putting people off and make it not econom ically attractive.

Actively develop Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District owned lands at Coolnamuck, Carrick Beg, Ca rrick-on-Su ir.

The Carrick-on-Suir Town Development Plan 2013 provides for an appropriate mix of private/lst time buyers and social housing at this site which has seen no development work carried out in the intervening years. This site development would provide a high-quality living environment with recreational amenities and access to community facilities and within walking distance of town centre. Alongside the current various housing assistance options, encourage social investment by establishing housing co-operatives and providing an accessible capital source for same.

Start dialogue with 'Respond'Waterford, with a view to Council acquiring the vacant and Underutilised apartment complex (the former Friary House) at Carrick Beg, Carrick-on-Suir for our growing elderly population thus freeing up Social Housing family type homes. Start dialogue with Carrick-on-Suir Development Association with a view to acquiring the former Friary Church as a community space/place for the residents of Friary House and general community use.

Purchase the in-filled 8.5 acres to the rear of Ormond Castle, Carrick-on-Suir, for leisure, leisure business and tourism development.

Where appropriate the Council should identify sites (derelict/vacant) for Retirement Villages. Make better use of land and buildings, including'infill' etc. Reverse town/village and rural population decline, by encouraging new roles and functions for buildings.

Economy and Employment

On the economic development front, COSTEDC has just opened Phase 1 of The Stable Lane Digital Hub in the Municipal District HQ building. COTEDC is actively pursuing phase 2 to create a total of over 50 work spaces. While hot desking is a very important facility to enable remote working, our primary objective is to act as incubator to develop new or expanded small businesses leading to job and wealth creation.

People more than ever are working remotely in places such as our Digital Hub, and by providing the right services for people and businesses we can re-imagine our towns to grow employment within them. This needs to be cost effective for everyone, it needs support.

The development of a modern high-quality Enterprise Centre for more conventional businesses, using an area like the old mart site. Encourage SMEs and new businesses, new start-ups within towns.

Tourism

On the tourism front, a plan has been agreed with Tipperary Tourism, Failte lreland, the Office of Public Works and local interests to increase visitor numbers by a factor 5 in Carrick- on-Suir worth an annual €500,000 to the local economy.

Tipperary County Council along with Leader and Munster Vales have provid ed 75o/o grant support for the needed building fabric works and modifications at the Carrick-on-Suir Heritage Centre cost €0.25 million. The project to install a state of the art, interactive historic interpretation is estimated to cost €0.5 million and is awaiting capital grant funding. Given the long-term payback from this project, we advocate that Tipperary County Council assist with the matching funds needed and help the community towards the expense required to harvest this benefit.

Alongside the in-town attractions, such as Ormond Castle and the Heritage Centre, Carrick- on-Suir is a gateway town to Munster Vales. Carrick-on- is very close to Waterford and Kilkenny. ln addition to the tourist sites mentioned, the development plan needs the include the Lingaun Valley Tourism initiative which encompasses Kilkenny and Tipperary. We need to include Curraghmore which is in Waterford but very close to Carrick-on-Suir, and of course the Waterford Greenway. All of these attractions (Comeragh Mountains, Hiking Centre in Rathgormac, Lingaun Valley etc.) influence the business that can be done in Carrick-on-Suir, and the area for tourism. There are places for people to stay. lf you look at our location, inter-county promotion of tourism is important as well, an example of the Counties working together is the Munster Vales. There is an opportunity to be grasped here.

For example, if someone is staying in Waterford why not visit Carrick-on-Suir and see what's here. From Carrick-on-Suir you can take cruiser boats all the way up the Barrow and Shannon system all the way up to Lough Derg. lt's an added feature of the Blueway that is relatively unknown and should be promoted.

We need a budget for tourism promotion. Tourism promotion must include all the modern social media platforms such as lnstagram, Twitter, the use of bloggers, influencers and the traditional media.

Provide the facilities so that people can set up shops near to the attractions, for example there is a coffee shop at Kilmeaden along the Greenway; give people that something extra to go for. The plan needs to make sure the promotion and facilities meet the tourists' needs, whether it's it blogging and influencers, coffee shops, click and collect takeaway, accommodation, activities etc.

lf you have an attractive town people will come. With more and more people coming to the town for tourism, we expect to see a big boost for retail as well'

Environment, Ecology and Water Systems

Water and Flooding

ln order to prevent further deterioration in our water quality, a policy should be included with specific objectives to implement Catchment Based Water Quality lmprovement Plan

Develop and encourage constructed-wetlands on riparian sites to reduce flood risk on a catchment level.

Landscape

lnclude policy to implement National Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies. ldentify areas suitable and unsuitable for wind and solar energy farms to give clarity to local communities and renewable energy providers. We submit strongly that the hills above Faugheen should not be zoned for windmills.

Within the urban area the completion of the parkland beside Glanbia in Carrick-Beg would be a very desirable urban enhancement.

Devise long-term plan for the maintenance of the Carrick-on-Suir Marina. We want to make sure that the access to the waterway needs to be marked and kept and preserved as a facility especially for tourism.

Some of our 'Jewels in the Crown' of Tipperary are:

o Suir Blueway; (Needs to be protected by Tipperary and Waterford Planning Authorities). o Slievenmon. o Landscape Character Assessment, which should also consider ancient heritage sites, should be included in Draft Plan.

Natural Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Here are some of the main environmental issues facing Tiperary:

o Lack of Local Authority Civic Amenity Sites in large urban towns like Carrick-on-Suir. . Daily commute from Tipperary Towns to the Regional Growth Centres. o Urban dereliction. o Wetland removal and deterioration of water quality.

Additional measures to protect the environment would be to provide Civic Amenity Site at Ca rrick-on-5u ir.

Reduce commuter traffic out of the County to Regional Growth Centres by developing enterprise parks and incubation space in Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary Town. Promotion of the Digital Hub could help reduce commutes, in turn reducing Carbon emission. lnclude policies that help to tackle dereliction and put in specific objectives that:

o All Council owned derelict sites to be eliminated within 2 years. o Exempt improvement/re-use of private derelict sites from development levies. o Target too/o of Public Housing Capital Programme to be constructed on town centre. derelict sites.

Survey and designate remaining wetland areas for protection; lmplement Catchment Based Water Quality lmprovement Plan.

Develop and implement a County Biodiversity Plan as part of County Heritage Plan and give it statutory backing in the Development Plan. Each Town Development Plan should have its own Biodiversity Plan that focuses on habitat and species protection and guides the works of the Council, especially its parks and roads departments. Connectivity, Transport and I nfrastructure

lnfrastructure

We definitely need a better infrastructure for Electric Vehicles. We currently only have two charging spots in Carrick-on-Suir. The proper signage should be provided, along with the proper supervision, for example people plugging in their cars all day and other people coming along who can't charge.

Transport and Connectivity

With the new developments in Waterford, this should facilitate the upgrade of Limerick Junction line, and putting a proper service that can facilitate commuters and reduce the carbon footprint. There needs to be a significant effort to ensure the continuation and long- term future of the rail service from Waterford to Limerick Junction. This would greatly benefit Carrick-on-Suir. lt helps us as a town because it would both benefit people living in Carrick-on-Suir to easily get to Waterford and get a train back home, and also for visitors to come to the town.

lssues with railway lines at the moment revolve around times, trains are not turning up at efficient times for potential users. Currently, the price to travel via train is much cheaper than by bus, yet people opt to use bus due to extra convenience. A large portion of people travelling to work from Carrick-on-Suir are likely to be working in large industrial estates, and there's no connection between the railway line and the large industrial estate.

There is an opportunity here, but it's only an opportunity providing Tipperary County Council persuade CIE to provide a proper timetable, from Clonmelto Carrick-on-Suir, Carrick-on-Su ir to Waterford.

We also need a long-term solution to the non-business traffic in the town. The traffic coming through the Main Street of Carrick-on-Suir for non-business purposes clogs the Main Street. With the provision of a new bridge over the river Suir to take the Waterford traffic out of the town, the Main Street could be completely reimagined with less volume on it.

We want to support street scape improvements in Sean Kelly Square, in the Main Street, Castle Street, and access from the main car park to Ormond Castle. Create an infrastructure so that it is possible for bus space tourism to access the Ormond Castle.

We assume the recently announced Blueway - Ormond Castle will provide needed cycling amenities and facilities.

Our Quality of Life

Community Facilities The planned community, recreational and culturalfacilities are the extension of the Blueway to the Ormonde Quarter and the Ecological and Amenity Enhancement of the Castle park Carrick-on-Suir is at pre planning phase.

Plan for improving the Blueway should include for new parking at Carrick-on-Suir and improved car parking at other access point and the provision of toilets and drinking water where appropriate. lt should also look at upgrading bathing facilities on the Suir at suitable location such as at Carrick-on-Suir.

The upgrade of the boat slip at Dillon Bridge as originally included in the Blueway Plan should be included in the list of projects to be undertaken by the council.

Carrick-on-Suir's cycling heritage should be acknowledged and all road improvement or proposed by pass should set the standard nationally for cycling infrastructure.

Ecological and Amenity Enhancement of all major public parks should be considered and included as an objective in the Development Plan.

We have so many clubs in the town to cover people's different aspects in life, some of them have their own premises but others don't. Survey voluntary organizations in the town that need space and create a plan to provide it, so that there are high quality places available.

We've had issues ourselves getting spaces for meetings. Our experience has been that it is getting quite difficult to find spaces and hold medium and large meetings, training etc. That needs to be provided in the town possibly as part of an enterprise hub, and making sure that the current facilities that are there are supported to be fit and able for that purpose.

Green and Blueway lnfrastructure ln 20L9, Tipperary Tourism launched the Suir Blueway creating a walking and cycling facility linking Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir and enabling river activity as far as Ardfinnan. Usage of the Blueway has been high and plans are now afoot by Tipperary County Councilto design an enhanced link for the Blueway with the town centre and ormond Castle.

Tipperary Planning Authority cannot include policies that will provide for the connectivity from the start of the Blueway at Carrick-on-Suir to the Waterford Greenway or proposed South East Greenway. This needs to be addressed at National and Regional level. The potential to make the existing under- utilised rail network in the county suitable for cycling purposes should be considered.