Lessons learned following approval of Ballaghaderreen car parking scheme
Traders and residents had held daily demonstrations in the town earlier this year highlighting concerns about the council's public realm plan.
Roscommon County Council has stated that it is “taking learnings” from the Ballaghaderreen Part 8 process after plans for a new car parking scheme were approved by all six members of Boyle MD yesterday.
The Part 8 car park plan will see the addition of a new carpark at The Plots along with 14 spaces at The Square.
Works had stopped in the town in March when concerns arose over the lack of parking and it wasn’t until July that full agreement was reached following mediation between the council, representatives of the Ballaghaderreen Business and Community Group and Councillors Michael Frain and Liam Callaghan representing the Elected Members of Boyle Municipal District.
Following the approval by members Enda Mulryan, Roscommon County Council stated the process had been a difficult one and the mediation solution had been the correct one to take.
He stated, “We have come a long distance and listened to what the people have to say. We have learned to engage with people at an earlier stage.”
He said, “We are taking learnings from this. Going forward we need to explain to people what we are proposing and get people out early and inform them of the design. We don’t want to force views.”
Cllr Callaghan also stated that this “would be a lasting legacy for us as councillors. I see a huge amount of funding coming to Ballaghaderreen when this work is completed.”
Cllr Michael Frain also stated the plan had involved “long days and long nights. It (the plan) have been thoroughly gone through. It has been a learning curve.”
