Proposals for Cappoquin regeneration open for public opinion

The Cappoquin Regeneration Project Team, composed of Waterford City and County Council, Tomar Trust and Cappoquin Regeneration Company, has distributed a leaflet throughout the community outlining the main proposed projects to form part of the West Waterford town's regeneration project.

Details of the current high-level proposals are contained within the leaflet while design teams are actively developing proposals for the regeneration project. Waterford City and County Council have issued an update on the proposals for the regeneration of Cappoquin town centre and surrounding area, following a meeting of the Dungarvan Lismore MD in May, where project manager, Carron Walsh briefed councillors on the project's progress.

According to the Cappoquin Regeneration Team, challenging dereliction and vacancy, looking at new models of town centre living, improving the public domain, improving access to the River Blackwater and developing Cappoquin as a recreational hub are the main priorities of the project.

“For many years, Cappoquin has suffered from the same blight as is afflicting many similar rural towns. Things like the loss of traditional low-skill industries, reduced local services particularly in the retail sector, residential movement to the edge of town and to larger urban centres and a general increase in the number of derelict and vacant properties in the town centre.

“Allied to this, however, are certain trends which give an opportunity to counteract these issues. Trends such as the increased demand for remote working, like the greater demand for improved work-life balance, like an improved quality of life, like a greater value placed on the social economy, like a greater understanding of the value to society of assets like the River Blackwater and the Knockmealdown Mountains and things like a greater understanding of the value of community and of shared and agreed concepts of community development,” a spokesperson said.

A key area of regeneration is the Market Square and Main Street improvement in which Cappoquin’s eighteenth century square will be redesigned at the heart of a new public realm scheme, incorporating a portion of Main Street. This is to work in conjunction with the newly refurbished buildings adjacent to the square and will provide a vibrant new nucleus of commercial and cultural uses at the heart of the West Waterford town.

Property regeneration in the town centre is also outlined on the leaflet, noting that a number of properties of significance will be restored and reconfigured to provide a suitable mix of retail, accommodation and office space on Main Street, with the effect of creating a renewed vibrancy within the town.

PILOT HOUSING SCHEME

Cappoquin is also one of six towns selected by the Department of Rural and Community Development to participate in a pilot scheme to develop innovative proposals to encourage town centre living.

Under the Housing Pilot Scheme the goal is to bring existing under-used, vacant and/ or derelict buildings into residential use and therefore drawing people back to town centre living and regenerating the town.

According to the leaflet, a number of properties extending from Upper Main Street onto Green Street will be restored and reconfigured to provide a suitable mix of modern energy efficient residential units.

BLACKWATER BLUEWAY

Local amenities have also been outlined under the Cappoquin Regeneration Project, with the Glenshelane River Walk proposed to facilitate a 2km extension from the current Coillte managed trailhead at Glenshelane in the town.

As a significant town on the River Blackwater, Cappoquin has been identified as a potential amenity hub on the proposed Blackwater Blueway, which is being assessed as part of this project.

“The project aims to promote connectivity from the town to the River Blackwater and surrounding landscape, making the most of its picturesque location on a bend in the river,” the leaflet states.

Included in this proposal is improved access to the river, an upgrade to the existing slipway and quay, activation of disused lands, as well as a Railway Loop Walk which would incorporate the old ‘Red Bridge; and a biodiversity park. It should be noted that all proposals outlined in the leaflet are for information and comment only, as proposals are subject to feasibility studies and approvals, meaning these may change.

According to the Cappoquin Regeneration Team, there is an understanding that not everything can be fixed, at least not immediately, therefore certain projects have been chosen for the project.

“Priority projects have been chosen with a view to creating local economic opportunities, increasing local jobs, investing in the overall appearance and image of the town and in restoring a sense of community pride in Cappoquin that might have been damaged by the various losses over the last number of years. The most important thing is the realisation and acceptance that Cappoquin, as a town, has far more fantastic assets than it has liabilities,” a spokesperson said.

HUGE POTENTIAL

History and heritage, natural amenities, architecture, vibrant clubs and organisations, good leadership, a vibrant enterprise community, food producers and services, the green environment and the River Blackwater were all highlighted under the town’s assets.

“When you add all this up, you get something that is really worth developing and improving, really worth coming together to fight for. And that, primarily, is what the current project is about. It is about the community coming together with the local authority and with local development agencies to collaborate on a number of projects aimed at lifting Cappoquin’s capacity to deliver to both its own residents and to others, making it a really great place in which to live, to work, to learn and a place that is also really worth visiting and spending some time in,” the spokesperson added.

A public information event on the Cappoquin Regeneration Project is to be held in due course. Anyone who may have ideas or comments on the project are advised to contact the project team by e-mailing cappoquin@waterfordcouncil.ie