Limerick mayoral candidate reveals projects for €40m fund

DEPUTY Brian Leddin launched his mayoral manifesto at St Michael’s Rowing Club and revealed his plans for the mayor's €40m discretionary fund, if elected.

The Green Party TD said rather than take a “scattergun approach” to dispersing the €40m, he proposes to leverage it to conduct “four transformative town and street renewal projects”-  one is in Limerick city and three in the county.

“For decades, the streets connecting King John’s Castle to St John’s Cathedral have been neglected, with widespread dereliction, vacancy and episodes of anti-social behaviour evident throughout. 

“By investing in the streetscape and employing preferential commercial rates and applying for matching funding from the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) I intend to transform Nicholas Street, Mary Street, Broad Street and John Street from decaying vestiges of our history into a thriving, vibrant cultural centre piece for our city featuring shops, restaurants, residential developments, artists studios and community facilities,” said Mr Leddin.

Similar transformative projects will be planned and delivered in the five-year term of the mayor in each of Limerick’s rural electoral areas, one each for Adare-Rathkeale, Cappamore-Kilmallock and Newcastle West, he said. 

“This will follow a consultative process with the public and other stakeholders in these areas,” said Mr Leddin.

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His manifesto outlines five priority areas which will inform his stewardship of Limerick in the next five years - transport, housing, strong towns and safe streets, active citizenship and community, rural regeneration.

Mr Leddin sees the new role of directly elected mayor as an opportunity to accelerate delivery of some large-scale infrastructure projects, which he says he has initiated.  

“The tracks are being laid on the Limerick to Foynes railway just this month. For the first time in 60 years we are expanding the railway network in Limerick and I am proud to have delivered this project. 

“Planning is underway for new stations at Moyross and Ballysimon. I have my sights set on a full metropolitan railway system,” said Mr Leddin.

He pledges to work with  rural communities to safeguard family farms, protect the natural environment and invest in sustainable tourism.

“The manifesto sets out my key priorities if elected mayor. In it I describe a vision for Limerick as a thriving metropolitan city, connected to the surrounding countryside and rural towns with new rail lines, new train stations and more frequent services," he concludes.

To read the manifesto in full see  brianleddin.com