local & economic 1988 - 2003 development annual report supplementa time to reflect 38 2388 local & economic 1988 - 2003 development a time to reflect 39) Blackrock Local Development G Refurbishment of Magdalene Millennium Project A variety of projects have brought Tower, Drogheda renewed life and vibrancy to local G Ardee (Completion of carpark communities. at Bridge Street) 40) Ardee Playground G Refurbishment of Smarmore Every effort was made to attract Castle 41) Tholsel Street funding from available sources. G Omeath Recreational Park - Carlingford Grants from such headings as G Tullyallen Village Enhancement Urban & Village Renewal Schemes, G Renovation of Carlingford 42) Seatown Castle International Fund for Ireland, Courthouse to incorporate a Peace & Reconciliation, Interreg, new branch library etc. which had been matched with G Barrack Corner footpath funding from Louth Local G Annagassan Harbour Authorities, has made a significant G Omeath Seafront Amenity Scheme impact on the upgrading of towns G Footpaths at Kilsaran, and villages within the county. Castlebellingham and Tullyallen The following represents but a G Upgrading of facilities at sample of such schemes over the Monasterboice Round Tower years in question: G Pedestrian access to Orchard G Ardee Villas, Termonfeckin (Carpark & landscaped area) G Refurbishment of Wolfe Tone G Clogherhead Hall, Knockbridge (Refurbished tennis courts) G Undergrounding of public G Omeath (Facelift of pier) lighting at Carlingford and G Castlebellingham Blackrock promenade (Streetscape project) G Refurbishment of Grove Hill G Knockbridge (Stephenstown) Gate, Drogheda (Landscaped park & pond) G Provision of children’s G Refurbishment and restoration playground at the Fairgreen, of Seatown Castle Ardee G Seafront and village G Refurbishment of Blackrock improvements at Clogherhead promenade G Promenade at Greenore G Undergrounding of overhead G Restoration of motte & bailey wires and new streetscape at at Millmount Carlingford. G Restoration of St. Finian’s Park G Refurbishment of Ardee Castle G Provision of a playground at G New public conveniences at Carlingford Carlingford, Port Oriel, Blackrock 24 annual report supplement 40 41 39 42 25 local & economic 1988 - 2003 development a time to reflect 43) St. Helena Park Another highlight related to a co- considerable advances in the level - Dundalk ordinated strategy pioneered by of job creation, both from the the Louth County Strategy Group. indigenous and overseas sectors. In passing, this level of co- Business enterprises such as 44) Dunleer Area operation was to prove instrumental Quantum, Xerox, AFL, ICL and ABB Office & Library in the successful establishment of represent but a sample of recent the County Development Board investment. 45) Carlingford structure in later years. The Public Toilet establishment of “Partnership Court” Development Control represented but one example. Also The establishment of the planning 46) Xerox worthy of mention is the first in a clinics together with the realignment Development series of sculptures to be located of the planning areas to correspond in the county under the “Percent with the reinvigorated area structure for Art” scheme which was erected would prove to be pivotal in terms at the Fairgreen in Ardee in of customer service as would the December 2001. scanning of all planning files from 1963 to date. Station Masters House, Dunleer An example of integrated Forward Planning development where Council services Local area plans have been finalised are brought closer to local in relation to all towns and villages. communities. This beautifully These will provide a plan-led focus restored building houses a fully particularly in terms of the integrated branch library and residential, commercial and amenity area office. potential of all development centres. The strategic plans relating to County Development Board Dundalk and its hinterlands Strategy together with the North Drogheda Based on the partnership theme, environs will provide for the orderly this will provide a longer term development of these major towns. view in terms of economic, social Similarly, the draft county and cultural development. Its development plan which was associated structures will provide recently completed will provide a renewed impetus in terms of further coherence of planning community development. policies notwithstanding the extent of development pressures International Investment which are ongoing as a result of Recent years have witnessed the county’s success. In turn, these 26 annual report supplement 44 45 43 46 27 local & economic 1988 - 2003 development a time to reflect 47) Partnership Court plans will be augmented by other controlling residential development policies which were recently in rural areas where a balance 48) Tullyallen Village adopted including the housing, needed to be struck with retail and childcare strategies. environmental considerations. In Square this regard, a special task force Other major plans included: comprising of councillors, officials 49) Ardee Castle - Review of County Development and independent architects was set Interior Plan (at draft stage) up to oversee a project aimed at - Dundalk and Environs Plan improving the quality and visual 50) Tallanstown Old (at draft stage) appearance of new housing Schoolhouse - North Drogheda Environs Plans developments in rural areas. The (at predraft stage) report entitled “Building Sensitively and Sustainably in County Louth” 51) Building A major joint strategic study of would prove to be an invaluable Sensitively and the Drogheda area including the guide to planning applicants and Sustainably in functional areas of Louth County was indeed instrumental in achieving County Louth Council, Drogheda Borough a high standard of development in Council and Meath County Council keeping with the county’s rich has also been initiated. architectural heritage. Also of significance in this regard was the Local Area Plans were developed appointment of a conservation in relation to the following officer under a joint sharing Category I Centres: arrangement with Meath County Carlingford, Omeath, Dromiskin, Council. Castlebellingham/Kilsaran, Knockbridge, Annagassan, Possibly the most significant single Tallanstown, Termonfeckin/Baltray, event under this heading was the Collon, Clogherhead, Louth, Council’s success in the Supreme Tenure, Ardee, Tullyallen, Dunleer. Court in a compensation claim The following additional plans relating to the proposed were also finalised: Ballymascanlon Designer Village. In Category II Development Centres (32) this instance, there was a potential Retail Strategy, Childcare exposure of some u27 million and Strategy, Industrial Policy and certainly it had proved to be a brave landscape assessment. decision to successfully endeavour to overturn two High Court judgements. In the course of the period, particular attention was focused In terms of economic development, on the difficult problem of the mid to late nineties witnessed considerable advances in the level 28 annual report supplement 49 47 50 48 51 29 local & economic 1988 - 2003 development a time to reflect 52) Ardee Fire Station of job creation both from the indigenous and overseas sectors with many of the county’s multi- national businesses undertaking new recruitment. This, combined with graduate output from Dundalk Institute of Technology and other educational and training establishments focused on software, languages and IT training, would lead to continued jobs growth as the county moved towards the new millennium. Indeed, the establishment of the new Xerox plant would represent but one example of such a trend. A new marketing strategy involving DKIT, possibly to include a regional dimension, is currently at inception stage. The establishment of the Community and Enterprise Section, together with its associated structures in the form of the community fora, etc., would prove to be a key development in terms of social, economic and cultural renewal. This new approach stressed the importance of the reform of local government structures particularly in relation to integration with the various local development agencies. 30.