NEW HEALTH CHECK TEAM SET UP IN TOWN
PILOT PROJECT TO MONITOR AND DRIVE DEVELOPMENT IN TOWN
DUNDALK was chosen to participate in a ‘pilot’ National Town Centre Health Check training programme in conjunction with six other regional towns across the country, to help monitor and drive the development of the town centre going forward.
Dundalk BIDS and Louth County Council in conjunction with Queen’s University and Alison Harvey who is the National Co-ordinator of the TCHC training programme from the Heritage Council have been working on the pilot together over the last year.
Alison Harvey, said ‘Undertaking a collaborative Town Centre Health Check for Dundalk will provide a robust, up to date baseline to inform urban renewal and regeneration initiatives. The part- nerships and networks created by the project process bode well for the future of the historic town centre, particularly as we celebrate European Year of Cultural Heritage throughout 2018’.
Masters students from Queen’s University carried out a number of inspections and fieldwork visits from October 2016 onwards including a comprehensive survey that included land use, a public shopping questionnaire and pedestrian footfall, they also carried out a public realm study in a number of locations in the town centre.
On Friday January 5 Dundalk BIDS chaired a special meeting of key stakeholders including Louth County Council and public representatives who attended a presentation in the Town Hall outlining the work of the project to date including the initial findings of the study along with Urban Design analysis and proposals.
During the public shopping survey, which was carried out over two days, participants were asked a variety of questions including their main reason for shopping in Dundalk Town Centre, where they had travelled from and how often they shop in Dundalk. Information gathered on the day included the type of shops and services visited, mode of transport used, suggested improvements for town centre, way finding and connectivity.
Martin McElligott, Town Centre Manager said ‘ The pilot identified many opportunities for our town centre and also highlighted issues that we need to be mindful of moving forward.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the findings and establish a Town Centre Health Check Team. We need to build on what Dundalk is doing well and improve those areas where we are not performing, the function of the TCHC Team will be to measure this progress’.
In the coming months Dundalk BIDS will be liaising with business owners and will be encouraging members of the public to participate and give their views on their experiences in the town centre. It is an opportunity to shape town centres and strengthen it into the future, to make it an attractive place to work, live and visit.