Public have their say on Mitchelstown development
A small, but thankfully vocal group gathered last Thursday morning by the canopies in Mitchelstown to give their opinion on the town’s Georgian Quarter. The design team, REDscape Landscape & Urbanism, were on hand to hear and get opinions from people who live, work, party and play in the town itself to figure out what is the best direction to take the planning in.
The decision to hold the meeting on a Thursday was a deliberate one, so as to see the effect and use of the market traders on the town itself. TheAvondhu was present to eavesdrop on just some of the suggestions locals had for the design team, and what is apparent is that the market is a welcome and essential aspect of Mitchelstown - but there were some strong opinions on the parking situation and the layout of the traders’ stalls.
There was an almost unanimous opinion that some structure to the stalls in the square would be welcomed, with some favouring a market where all goods are on tables or stalls rather than the ground. TheAvondhu queried if this would not cause the character of Mitchelstown’s market to be lost and make it a more exclusive and ‘artisan’ affair, respondents however disagreed, wishing only to see some order in place.
The €4.5 million project will see changes to New Square, Kings Street, Georges Street and Kings Square. Thursday’s open dialogue was intended to make sure that what those funds go towards reflects the values of the townspeople. Ironically, a nearby stallholder’s music treated those assembled to ‘ All God’s Creatures Got a Place in the Choir’ as people put their ideas forward.
The general sense was that the square is a great but underused asset to the town. A discussion on the possible reintroduction of INDIE, or another music festival to the square was shot down, with misgivings voiced on the practicality of charging people entry to a public square. However, a busking festival or similar was greeted positively. A playground was posited, acknowledging that teenagers sometimes make their own playground already by climbing the canopies.
On that topic, the relocation of the canopies was suggested, as slap-bang in the middle of the square wasn’t deemed to be the best place for them.
Discussion on the public toilet was positive, with at least one individual pointing out that tour buses make good use of it, being guaranteed of a WC, a service not always easily available.
While some assembled focused on the parking and access the square, which was generally described as chaotic, others pointed out that the newly opened James Street carpark is but two minutes away and is being used more often as people get used to it.
CASUAL TRADING BYE-LAWS
Bringing some order to the market came up again recently, this time at Monday’s county council meeting. The Casual Trading ByeLaws are due for an update, as a process to do just this was enacted in 2016. Since then, the council’s legal team have done a review of ‘ market rights’, and also noted that the regulation of ‘occasional mobile trading’ requires a mutli-agency response including the HSE and An Garda Siochana. There are several considerations to make, such as the fact that the council do not necessarily have a right to regulate mobile trading in a public-access area like New Market Square.
Cllr Kay Dawson welcomed the news at the meeting, saying that traders to Mitchelstown were very much welcome as bringing business to the town on a Thursday, and that moving forward on the byelaws will be a positive development.