Efforts to classify Balting lass as a heritage town

December 1993

WICKLOW County Council is to seek to have Baltinglass classified as a heritage town in an attempt to secure funding for the upgrading of the public library in the courthouse. The improvements required will cost between £100,000 and £150,000 according to council officials - and there is no sign of either the Department of Justice or the Department of the Environment coming up with the necessary cash.

The Minister for the Environment, Michael Smith, has been asked to meet a deputation from Wicklow County Council about the condition of libraries in the county, but he has not yet agreed to the request. And even if finance for the libraries is made available to the council, Baltinglass may not benefit.

It languishes in third place on the priority list, behind Bray and Newtownmountkennedy.

However, County Manager, Blaise Treacy, has told councillors that he will attempt to have Baltinglass deemed a heritage town, which may improve the prospects of coming up with the necessary money.