Templeshannon to be included in re-opening plans

PROGRESS on plans to re- open Enniscorthy after the Coronavirus ( Covid 19) lockdown are now almost complete and ready for implementation this week. A meeting of all vested interests, including the Gardai, took place in the Chamber office on Monday last at which Town and District Manager, Ger Mackey gave a detailed briefing on the progress to date in getting Enniscorthy back up and running.

The plan has now been extended to the Templeshannon area of Enniscorthy where pedestrianisation will be implemented at weekends in order to facilitate street trading by local business interests.

At the request of local traders and after a period of sustained lobbying by the Chamber, the Municipal Authority has agreed to re- surface Templeshannon ahead of on- street trading and this welcome and long overdue development is expected to get underway in the immediate future. The work will be carried out at night so as not to disrupt commercial activity and will be completed in a single shift.

Meanwhile, the upgrading of the public realm in Enniscorthy is nearing completion. All public flowerbeds at approach roundabouts to Enniscorthy have been re- planted and internal town planting is progressing in accordance with plans.

A deep cleaning of all town centre streets got under way on June 22 and will be completed within 10 days. The work will be carried out in the evenings and at night so as not to disrupt normal trading.

A new € 10,000 shop front painting grant was also announced at Monday’s meeting with Ger Mackey saying shop owners could now apply for a grant of € 200.00 towards the repainting costs of their respective premises.

He also announced a flower basket grant of € 2,500.00 which traders can avail of to erect flower baskets on shop front facades. The Grant is confined to € 50.00 per shop which should cover the full cost of erecting the baskets.

The Chamber’s ‘ Mentoring Day’ on Thursday last was hugely successful with business interests throughout the town availing of the opportunity to speak with a panel of experts on all aspects of re- opening following the Covid 19 lockdown.

Mr. Ed. Murphy, Financial Advisor, Invest Wexford, was joined by Mr. Michael Dempsey, Chairman, Invest Wexford-Transforming Enniscorthy, at the mentoring day which took place in the Chamber office.

As Development Officer of the Chamber, I have written to all of Wexford’s Oireachtas members in relation to consistent rumours concerning plans for the opening of a Direct Provision Centre in the former Carrig Tur Nursing Home, The Shannon. The letter asks for clarification on the issue and for full consultation with the local community before a final decision on the future use of the facility is agreed.

The re- generation of Templeshannon was the main item on the agenda for the ‘ Invest Wexford-Transforming Enniscorthy’ Committee when it reconvened last Friday, after the Covid 19 lockdown.

Wexford County Council has ambitious plans for the re- development of the Templeshannon area and the ‘ Invest Wexford-Transforming Enniscorthy’ Committee has invited two interested parties to their meeting on June 26th., to make submissions on what they believe is necessary to revitalise the area.