Public Realm plan for coastal region

Cllr Sharon Tolan is now ‘feeling the love’

BETTYSTOWN based councillor Sharon Tolan admitted to ‘feeling the love’ after her proposal for a Public Realm plan for the Laytown/Bettystown/Mornington and Donacarney areas was overwhelmingly supported at the council’s area meeting in Duleek.

She had come in for some criticism for proposing that the individual areas be included in funding via the Town and Village renewal scheme.

But on this occasion, she was congratulated on her suggestion which is proposed will ‘improve linkages and civic facilities for the residents of East Meath.’

She said she realised that the idea of splitting the areas had been contensious but there was a need to link up the areas .

Cllr Wayne Harding said that linkages should be improved. ‘ They are independent villages but are taken as an urban centre. I think we can go after real money as an urban centre.’

Cllr Sharon Keogan agreed, saying it was the way forward. She said there was €100,000 available from the Department of Heritage to put the plan together.

Tom Kelly said a masterplan had been put together for the area some years ago and could it be revamped and used.

‘If you are in a place like Morningtonn you have an identity, but the key is putting the areas together for funding’, Cllr Paddy Meade added.