€300,000 funding to progress plans on a 6 acre site in South Longford
A €300,000 funding boost has been announced for a 6 acre site in Lanesboro, located adjacent to the former Lanesboro Power Station lands and the Lough Ree Special Protection Area. The news was this morning welcomed by local councillor, Seán Mimnagh.
Funding of €300,000 has been approved to progress plans for the future development of a strategic six-acre site in Lanesboro, adjacent to the former Lanesboro Power Station lands.
The funding will now allow for a detailed assessment of the site's potential in a bid to help establish a long-term vision for its future. This will include the preparation of a comprehensive Masterplan that will examine opportunities to develop the site for a range of uses, including community facilities, tourism, recreation, enterprise and employment, while ensuring any proposals support sustainable development.
The news was this morning welcomed by Cllr Seán Mimnagh who said the funding represented an important step forward for Lanesboro and was “a very welcome investment in the future of our town.”
Said Cllr Mimnagh, “I’ve been working to highlight the enormous potential of this strategic site and to help progress the funding application, so I’m particularly pleased to see this investment approved. For too long, we’ve been talking about the potential that exists in Lanesboro. This funding gives us an opportunity to put a proper plan in place and examine how we can turn that potential into real opportunities for our community.”
“With the closure of the power station, Lanesboro has faced significant challenges, but we also have tremendous opportunities, particularly in tourism, recreation, community development and enterprise.”
Cllr Mimnagh acknowledged the assistance and cooperation of Minister Darragh O’Brien and Longford County Council management and staff in progressing the funding application, and stressed the importance of involving the local community in shaping the Masterplan, saying residents should have the opportunity to contribute their ideas and views on the future of the site.
He explained, “While this funding is for the planning and feasibility stage, it is an important first step towards attracting further investment and delivering meaningful regeneration in Lanesboro. I also believe it is essential that the local community is involved in shaping the future of this site. The people of Lanesboro deserve to have their voices heard and their ideas considered as the Masterplan progresses.”
He added , “I’ll continue working closely with Longford County Council, community groups and all relevant stakeholders to ensure we make the most of this opportunity. Lanesboro has huge potential, and this is another positive step towards building a stronger and more vibrant town for future generations.”
Cllr Mimnagh concluded by saying that the investment represented an opportunity to establish a clear roadmap for the regeneration of a strategically important site, while recognising the town’s unique location on the River Shannon and the environmental importance of Lough Ree.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme