New look for Newtown after funding boost

NEWTOWNMOUNTKENNEDY is to get an investment of nearly €500,000 to upgrade the public realm, street landscaping, traffic management, public spaces and community facilities.

Some €357,750 has been received from the Government’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund while Wicklow County Council will provide matching funds of €119,250.

The funding was announced by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, as part of an allocation of €5.5 million in funding to seven projects under the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

This funding builds on the €150,000 that Newtownmountkennedy received in 2018 from the Town and Village Enhancement Scheme, which funded streetscape improvements in the town.

The project is being led by Wicklow County Council and will design upgrades to the public realm, street landscaping, traffic management, public spaces and community facilities.

Deputy Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Michael Nicholson, said: ‘ This is a brilliant example of what can be achieved when local communities and the local authority work together to bring about transformative change and development. Our towns and villages have to be prepared to face the challenges and the changes that are ongoing. This is Wicklow County Council doing what we do best, working in the community, with the community, for the community.’

Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Pat Kennedy commented: ‘ the fund will enable Newtownmountkennedy to achieve sustainable social and economic development and greatly improve the quality of life for people living in the area.’

The announcement relates to Category 2 of the Fund, which provides seed capital funding for strategic, large-scale projects which will assist in delivering town and village regeneration and contribute to economic development and recovery.

Category 2 seeks to provide a ready-made pipeline of projects which can be progressed in the future with the support of the Fund or other funding streams. The funding provided will allow for further development of the projects to take place enabling them to be developed to a high standard and be ready to commence works in the future.