WICKLOW IS NEXT IN LINE TO BECOME AN AGE FRIENDLY TOWN
PLANNING is under way for Wicklow town to become an age friendly town.
In her presentation to councillors at the March meeting of Wicklow County Council, Richella Wood, Age Friendly Programme Manager, confirmed that the county town was next in line to become an age friendly town.
She said that 40 out of 62 actions in the age friendly strategy had been progressed, including four walkability surveys carried out in Arklow, Wicklow, Blessington and Rathdrum, with a survey of Baltinglass scheduled for this year.
Arklow is the first age friendly town in the county. Many local traders signed up for the age friendly business programme. There are also age friendly benches and age friendly parking in the town. While age friendly parking spaces are a ‘good will gesture’, young people cannot be prevented from using them. It is hoped that further age friendly spaces will be rolled out at county facilities. A befriending sceme for older people is also being started in the Arklow area. Toning equipment had also been installed and Eircode magnets made available to older residents.
Baltinglass Primary Care Centre will also be one of the first age friendly primary care centre.
The gardai had supported age friendly initiatives by encouraging older people to sign the vulnerable people register. Ms Wood stated this had been used during the snow to check in on people during the snow.
Ms Wood said there were plans for Wicklow to become the next age friendly town. Intergenerational events were also being planned.
Many councillors expressed their support for the age friendly programme.
Cllr Gail Dunne (FF) said ‘it’s amazing the work that has been done throughout the county’.
Cllr Pat Kennedy was among the councillors who commended Ms Woods for her work, saying ‘you have brought the council as an organisation to a new place that they recognise the elderly now and what they do’.
Cllr Mags Crean (Ind) asked how age friendly towns are selected.
Ms Wood said she had selected Arklow as first and Wicklow town second. She was hoping that Baltinglass would be designated an age friendly town next year. A second town could also be designated.
Cllr Melanie Corrigan (FG) said she looked forward to a walkability study for Bray, highlighting that age friendly status had benefits for a community.