Town Team aims to make Granard a better place to live, work, visit and invest in

A public meeting on plotting the future of local authority support for voluntary groups in Granard took place this week.

The gathering is to establish “vibrant and active community partners” to aid council development initiatives in the north Longford town.

It's hoped the Granard Town Centre First Town Team (also called the Granard Town Team) will lead the development and implementation of the Granard Town Centre First Plan.

Granard Municipal District members were given an overview of the objectives of the group at the January meeting of the authority.

MD members were told the aim of the voluntary group is to set out a plan for the revitalisation of town centres: “It aims to promote vibrant, sustainable, attractive living, working, and visiting spaes while addressing town centre decline. Town Centre First is an initiative of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Housing,” Donagh McArtain of Exodea Consulting told the members.

It's hoped that the Granard Town Team will be made up of local residents, business people, community representatives and other stakeholders.

Longford County Council and the Town Team will seek to secure Department of Rural and Community Development funding through various schemes to deliver on the aims and objectives of the Granard Town Centre First Plan.

Longford County Council's Town Regeneration Officer Lorraine O'Connor said it is hoped the meeting will bring together stakeholders for the betterment of the town: “The Town Team’s aims are to make Granard town a better place to live, work, visit and invest. The group will be inclusive and represent diverse sectors and backgrounds. Everyone is welcome to attend and learn of the role that they can play in being part of the new Granard Town Team.”

The public meeting on the formation of a Granard Town Team takes place in Granard Library on Tuesday, February 4 at 7pm.