Public vote shapes €20m revamp of growing town

THE country’s fastest growing town is set to undergo a massive transformation.

Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has more than 20,000 people living there and has been deemed Ireland’s fastest growing town by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Now, the town’s main street and harbour areas are set for a massive transformation, which will also include a new swimming pool.

Plans for the development have come about following a public survey carried out among 4,000 inhabitants.

More than 25pc of the local population aged over 11 took part in the ‘Our Balbriggan’ survey to prioritise a list of suggested improvements for a €20m-plus transformation.

A Balbriggan leadership group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, president of Dublin City University, had prepared suggestions for a €20m-plus rejuvenation plan: an ambitious new vision for the town, shaped by the views of its population.

Transforming the main street and connecting it to a re-imagined harbour area topped the board across all age groups in the public survey.

“We couldn’t have dreamed of this level of response, with a huge section of the community getting involved to imagine the possibilities,” said Prof MacCraith.

Fingal County Council chief executive Paul Reid added: “An idea which strongly emerged was the desire to have a swimming pool. Provision is being made for a swimming pool in the Castlelands Masterplan.”

A strategy published in April will contain an implementation plan.