Community Enhancement Plan 2015 Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick
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Community Enhancement Plan 2015 Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick Abbeyfeale Community Development Association Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan 2015 Project Promoters: Abbeyfeale Community Development Association Author: Tom O’Leary, O’Leary & Associates Sponsored By: The Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan was part funded by West Limerick Resources and the Department of Envir onment, Community and Local Government Acknowledgements We would like to thank the individuals, groups, organisations, businesses, agencies and the local community who participated in the consultation process and public meetings. Disclaimer and Copyright The information, analysis and recommendations provided here are for the purposes of the Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan as per the original planning brief. This document does not intend to act as a planning document or to replace existing or future planning documents to be prepared by Limerick County Council or other state or non-state agencies. O’Leary & Associates seeks to ensure that information contained in this plan is accurate at the time of research and drafting. However, no liability or responsibility is accepted arising from reliance upon the information contained in this plan. Legal, Financial and where applicable structural/technical advice should be sought before making any decisions relating to any capital works recommended in this plan. This plan is the copyright of the Abbeyfeale Community Development Association. Any use of elements of this plan for commercial or non-commercial purposes must be sought from the Abbeyfeale Community Development Association. Section: 1. Section: & Planning Introduction Ballybunion Town Development Plan 2013 (First Draft) 2 1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction & Planning .................................. 3 4. Infrastructure ................................................ 24 7. Tidy Towns ................................................... 45 1.1 Introduction ............................................ 3 4.1 Access ................................................. 24 7.1 Tidy Towns Performance ..................... 45 1.2 Purpose of the plan ............................... 3 4.2 Traffic Flow .......................................... 24 7.2 Tidy Town Plan Recommendations ..... 45 1.3 The Process .......................................... 4 4.3 Movement and accessibility ................. 24 4.4 Car Parking .......................................... 26 8. Plan Implementation & Structures ............... 50 2. Town Context ................................................. 5 4.5 Community Facilities............................ 28 8.1 Structures ............................................ 50 2.1 Town Setting .......................................... 5 4.6 Angling ................................................. 29 8.2 Finance ................................................ 52 2.2 Urban Form & Development .................. 5 4.7 Youth Facilities .................................... 32 8.3 Governance ......................................... 53 2.3 History ................................................... 6 4.8 Education Facilities .............................. 32 8.4 Marketing ............................................. 53 2.4 Demographics ....................................... 6 4.9 Sports Facilities ................................... 33 8.5 Evaluation ............................................ 55 2.5 Socio Economic Profile .......................... 7 4.10 Cultural Facilities ................................. 35 8.6 Future Planning ................................... 56 2.6 Services ................................................. 9 2.7 Planning Context ................................... 9 5. Tourism ............................................................. 37 Summary Action Plan ............................................ 58 5.1 Strategic Context ................................. 37 5.2 Product Development .......................... 37 3. Public Consultation Process ........................ 13 5.3 Developing the Tourism Strategy ........ 39 3.1 Consultation Process ........................... 13 3.2 Critical Issues Public Consultation ...... 14 3.3 Critical Issues from Business Surveys . 19 6 Enterprise Development ............................... 41 3.4 SWOT Analysis ................................... 20 6.1 Overview .............................................. 41 3.5 Strategy Development ......................... 21 6.2 Strategic Context ................................. 41 6.3 Indigenous Enterprise Sectors ............ 42 6.4 Funding & Support .............................. 43 1 Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan 2015 Introduction & Planning Process 2 Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan 2015 1. Introduction & Planning 1.1 Introduction The following aims were agreed with the planning The underlying purpose of this Plan is to promote committee: community involvement in the development of the The following Community Enhancement Plan was Town and to allow community members to feel commissioned by the Abbeyfeale Community ownership of the subsequent implementation Development Association. The consultation process process. • Carry out an analysis of the Strengths, and the preparation of the plan was carried out by Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats Tom O’Leary of O’Leary & Associates Training & The initial brief was to complete a Development (SWOT) in the area Consultancy, a Tralee based company which Plan to meet the challenges of the community going provides consultancy to non-profit community based forward and to ensure all future development is • Assess the existing built environment and identify areas/buildings in need of renewal organisations. carried out in a well planned and sustainable manner that will complement the overall development of the parish and meet the needs of The plan was part-funded by West Limerick • Evaluate ‘best practice’ approaches to town the community. renewal in Ireland and establish which Resources under the Rural Development approaches hold the most relevance for Programme. The plan will be a blueprint for the planned and Abbeyfeale. sustainable development of Abbeyfeale to the West Limerick Resources is a community based benefit of the community . • Identify potential sites for amenity and local development company operating in the west of commercial development based on the County Limerick. The Company is responsible for Specifically the Plan will address a number of principles of sustainable development and managing the Rural Development Programme. specific areas including: review existing planning guidelines and necessary infrastructure provision. This plan was funded under the Village Renewal • Tidy Towns – with recommendations regarding improvements to infrastructure and natural and and Development budget. • Identify ways of marketing Abbeyfeale as a built environment, and implementation of place to do business in and visit. recommended actions. The plan was co-financed by the Abbeyfeale • Highlight areas in need of improvement and Community Development Association. Tourism & Cultural Strategy – with • outline recommendations for such recommendations re product development, improvements. 1.2 Purpose of the plan financing, marketing and management. • Leisure and Recreation Policy – Analysis of • Consult with all relevant agencies that can This Plan has been commissioned by the contribute to the implementation of the plan. Abbeyfeale Development Association in order to existing facilities and recommendations for the provide an outlet for the local community to express development of new facilities and activities. • Identify sources of funding for new initiatives their vision of how they would like the Town to and recommend financial strategies for the develop. In so doing, the community will set in • Public Services Policy – Analysis of existing sustainability of existing and new facilities and motion the steps necessary to attain this vision for public infrastructure and services and the services operated by community based the future. requirement for new infrastructure and services and the upgrading of what exists. organisations 3 Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan 2015 1.3 The Process A key element of the success of any development plan for a community in either a rural or urban area is ‘buy in’ from the local community i.e. people living in the community and businesses based within the community. Another key element is the support to the plan from the outset by Local Development Companies, Local Authorities and relevant local, regional and where applicable national agencies. To achieve this, the consultants facilitated a parallel consultation process with the community, local businesses, and external relevant agencies. Full details of the consultation process are provided in Section 3. Desk Research provided the baseline data and information to make assumptions and influenced the strategies developed based on feedback from the consultation process. 4 Abbeyfeale Community Enhancement Plan 2015 2. Town Context 1 2.1 Town Setting Abbeyfeale is located approximately 65km south west of Limerick city and is 20km west of the town of Newcastle West. Its hinterland is the rural area defined by the Limerick County Development Plan 2010 – 2016 as an area of Strong Agricultural Base. The town is located just inside the Limerick/Kerry county boundary, on the Limerick to Killarney National Primary Road (N21), which is the main tourist and traffic route serving the southwest. The western edge