Strong interest in Roscrea Masterplan

The public consultations that are taking place throughout the month of March for the Roscrea Masterplan, which will shape the future of the heritage town's commercial and social centre, generated strong interest when they began over the weekend.

Surveys for businesses and community members were circulated at a very well attended public meeting event in the Black Mills complex on Saturday, which enables the community and all stakeholders to have their say following a funding allocation last year to prepare a new Town Centre First Plan for Roscrea.

The plan will be created by the Roscrea Town Team and Tipperary County Council with the support of O’ Mahony Pike Architects.

As well as the online surveys which can be completed up until March 22, there are in-person and online consultations taking place to provide all members of the public an opportunity to contribute.

The first of these took place in the Black Mills on Saturday and the strong interest in the well publicised new Masterplan system was reflected in the large attendance by the local community.

Pictured above is part of the consultation session held in the Black Mills complex on Saturday - there will be another opportunity to attend both online and in-person sessions over the coming days and the sessions are open to everyone

The sessions were organised by the Town Team and facilitated by Liam Mannix from KPMG and welcoming everyone to the workshop, Brian King, Town Champion for Roscrea commented that it was “ heartening to see the high attendance at the workshop which shows the commitment the public have in directing the future of Roscrea”.

Brian King added that “We believe that the Town Centre First Masterplan can map out future development making the town centre a more attractive place to live, work, socialise and run a business by identifying projects and objectives for the short, medium and long term that are driven by the Town Team”.

Áine Mc Carthy, Town Regeneration Officer, Tipperary County Council with responsibility for facilitating the delivery of the project with the Town Team and the consultants commented that “The public consultations taking place are a key part of the process in preparing the plan as they allow members of the public to be part of it” and she added that “We are undertaking focus groups with primary and secondary school students in Roscrea to involve children and young people in the decision making process.

“We also have Age Friendly Roscrea, retailers, Tidy Towns, sports clubs, CAP, PPN and more as part of the Town Team, therefore we are trying to reach as wide and varied an audience as possible for the Town Centre First Plan”, she said.

Last Saturday Councillors from the Thurles Municipal District were invited to attend a workshop in The Black Mills on the Roscrea Masterplan in advance of the public workshop and they also contributed to the process. Cllr Shane Lee, Cllr Michael Smith, Cllr Noel Coonan and Cllr Peggy Ryan attended and there will be more opportunities for the District Councillors to contribute to the plan as it is developed.

Ms Mc Carthy reminded everyone there will be a second public workshop on the March from 7pm to 8.30p.m in the Black Mills for members of the public to attend.

The surveys are available on line along with more information on the Town Team and the Town Centre First Plan and members of the public are invited to visit the Tipperary County Council website to find out more.

For any queries, please contact Áine Mc Carthy aine.mccarthy@tipperarycoco.ie