Urban regeneration funding no longer a luxury for Castlebar, but a necessity

by Alan Dillon

Castlebar is lucky to have existing amenities such as Lough Lannagh, Rehins Woods, the Turlough to Castlebar Greenway and many other recreational facilities.

I am sure many will agree they have delivered amazing results and represent an excellent return on investment.

In contrast, I was disappointed to see a street in the county town closed for a week at this point due to falling debris as a result of heavy winds and inclement weather.

It is just over 10 years ago since new footpaths and road surfacing was put in Market Square, Main Street, Ellison Street and Linenhall Street.

However, recent events indicate the time has come to prioritise greater investment in our town centres and the buildings which occupy them.

Regrettably, the age of these old and often times historically significant buildings adds significantly to the cost of renovation.

Urban regeneration funding is no longer a luxury, but a real necessity for the beating heart of our urban centres.

I am especially thinking of the Mall, Castlebar’s jewel, a beautiful park that was once the cricket ground of the then landlord of the town, Lord Lucan, boasting dominant buildings like the County Council HQ, Library, Garda HQ, and the magnificent Courthouse.

On one side, sadly lies the neglected Daly’s Hotel (old Imperial Hotel) with its own rich history going back to the Land League, the old Post Office and the Castlebar Military Barracks.

I want a situation where these ‘old’ buildings instil about a sense of pride versus the reality of their deteriorated condition at present.

We owe it to the nearby residents and traders in that area who support each other continuously, but now these areas need extra support in the form of substantial Government funding.

Urban regeneration funding is a necessity for the Castlebar Historic Quarter and the old Military Barracks.

I want the people of Castlebar and surrounding areas to be able to have a real sense of pride in the grand old buildings of our town centre which contain so much of our shared history.

The local residents and businesses are doing their best to make the Mall and surrounding areas thrive as a bustling community.

But so much more can be achieved if urban regeneration funding is secured to make our urban recreational space a real source of pride envied by other counties.

Such funding will have to be in the millions, make no doubt about it.

If we can get the funding approved by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, it will really transform this part of Castlebar town.

It has the real potential to become a thriving hub for business, residents and the wider community.

So much so, I want it to become a flagship project for Ministers Darragh O’Brien and Peter Burke to demonstrate the effectiveness of the urban regeneration fund.

In time, it can be shown to other towns as an example of how to apply for funding and how it is done.

I know Castlebar can be a leading example for other towns to follow just as we have done so with our recreational spaces around Lough Lannagh.

I cannot emphasise enough how important this funding is for Castlebar.

This project will consist of the reactivation and rejuvenation of Castlebar’s Historic Core and provide a mechanism designed to stimulate and redress vacant deterioration of these historic properties that frame The Mall - Castlebar’s Historic Urban Core and specifically repurpose the former Daly’s (Imperial) Hotel as an innovation hub and rejuvenate its formal setting.

It will transform the former Military Barracks into an inspiring civic space and visitor attraction centre and consist of major enhancements to the southern and eastern side of the town centre stretching from the Old Post Office into the Mall and continue through the Military Barracks finishing with a connection to the greenway at the roundabout on the entrance to the Castle Street car park.

The former Castlebar Post Office will be repurposed as a Community Youth Resource Centre.

Significant credit must be given to Mayo County Council the officials in the Castlebar Municipal District for their efforts in developing the plans and making an application for urban regeneration funding.

Rejuvenation and enhancement programmes are essential for any civic spaces.

The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund is one of four funds set up under the National Development Plan 2018-2027.

It has an allocation of €2 billion up to 2027, with €550 million available up to 2022.

The fund was set-up in 2018 by the last Fine Gael-led government and provides an excellent opportunity to secure the necessary funding to address the shortcomings in town centre public realms.

Thankfully, we have the plan to undertake a project in Castlebar that will serve as a real example of how to utilise urban regeneration funding and to get it right.

Now all that is required is the funding and I will be making sure the Local Government and the Ministers responsible know of our hunger to access this funding.

Now is the time to spend it, whatever can be done, must be done.

(Alan Dillon is a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Mayo).