Plan for ‘Kickstart Wicklow’ revival needs full support
A NEW plan to help Wicklow become a force to be reckoned with was unveiled at the most recent meeting of Wicklow Municipal District.
Chairman John Snell said that the report had been compiled by the Local Economic Initiative Group, which was set up by Wicklow town and district chamber last September.
‘ They assembled a very good committee to analyse the potential of Wicklow town and how we can grow things,’ he said.
He said that in order for the plan to be a success, ‘everyone needs to be at the table – the municipal district, the chamber, the Tidy Towns, sporting clubs, recreational clubs and businesses.’
Christine Flood, Senior executive with Wicklow County Council, who sits on the Local Economic Initiative Group, said that the report was a ‘framework for town centre renewal. Retail has changed and there has been a significant move to online shopping but we need to try and invigorate our town.’
She said that first step is a town centre ‘ health check’ which she said should be completed by the end of this year. This, she said will look at problems and opportunities within the town. ‘ They will look at the retail mix, vacant properties and derelict buildings.’
Following on from this will be stakeholders analysis, where interested parties will look at ways to improve the town.
‘Kickstart Wicklow has a plan and we are now looking at forming groups. I can’t recommend strongly enough the need for a structure. The Local Authority needs to be involved and have a strong partnership with this because a significant amount of funding will come from it. There’s a lot of merit in working together’, she said.
Ms Flood said a structure and a plan needed to be in place to capitalise on funding streams.
Cllr Gail Dunne said: ‘ This is one of the better documents I’ve seen and everyone needs to be on board. We can win as a team or die as an individual. The town is in bad need of regeneration. We know what and we need to make Wicklow attractive. We have a beautiful town and we probably haven’t tapped into that potential as much as we should have.
‘We should capitalise on the history of the town and hopefully in the next while we won’t have as many empty properties as we currently have.’
Cllr Shay Cullen said there is ‘ no question that there is a lot of funding out there and we need a structure to target these funding opportunities’.
He pointed out that Wicklow has many advantages, including its proximity to Dublin, its natural beauty, the upgrading of the Cliff Walks and its tourism potential.
‘Wicklow lends itself to promoting tourism’, he said. ‘WWe need a proper PR ccampaign to promote Wicklow nationwide to get people to see what Wicklow has to offer.’
Cllr John Snell said: ‘WWe need to implement tthis. The town health ccheck will be vital to push forward with this. Wicklow town hash plenty of things to entice people into the town.
‘We need to revitalise the Black Castle and the courthouse also needs to be looked at. We need to do more with our town hall as well and I know the wheels are in motion with regards to that.
‘We need everyone to put their shoulder to the wheel with this’, he said.
“We have a beautiful town and we probably haven’t tapped into that potential as much as we should have”