Charleville gets full focus of council scheme
THE launch of the Fermoy Municipal District Streetscape, Painting, Signage and Improvement Scheme took place at Charleville Library on Tuesday morning of this week.
The launch took place in the presence of Mary Hayes, senior executive officer of the Municipal District Operations and Rural Development Directorate; Pauline Moriarty, Municipal District Officer, Deirdre O’Keeffe, chairperson, Fermoy Municipal District; Cllr. Ian Doyle, John and Aine McHamhon, Liz O’Gorman- O’Brien, Sam and Margaret Young, Eddie O’Shea, of O’Shea’s Hardware, Charleville, Pat O’Connor and Kelly Lyons of AIB, Charleville and Donal O’Carroll, Area Engineer.
Launching the scheme in Charleville, Ms O’Keeffe said that the existing scheme was updated to aid the council in tackling dereliction where each municipal district has identified a particular town where it would place a particular emphasis on dereliction during 2017. Charleville was chosen for 2017.
The purpose of this proposal was not to suggest that any particular town or area was worse than others, but to try and take a proactive approach and look at measures that might lead to an improvement in a town or a particular part of it.
“The proposed approach is to go beyond the Derelict Sights Act, 1990 and to look at what practical measures could be implemented that would assist in improving the built fabric of our towns. Given the number of towns across Cork County it was considered giving particular attention to one town that resources could be utilised to their maximum effect,” said Ms O’Keeffe.
The scheme includes a range of measures for tackling dereliction, including streetscape painting, shop signage. Financial assistance will be provided to assist property owners, local tidy towns groups and/or communities to improve the overall appearance of buildings.
Advice and limited financial assistance will be given to encourage more traditional type shop fronts and move away from garish plastic signs.
The councill will also increase its activity in the identification of properties that come under the definition of dereliction. The negative effect that dereliction can have on an entire town cannot be understated.
Owners and the council, working together, can make significant improvements that will have more that just economic benefits but also help to restore pride in how towns look.
Anyone interested in availing of this scheme should contact their local Municipal District Office for details of the scheme being rolled out in their district. The closing date for Fermoy Municipal District is May 12, 2017.