‘master plan’
This, the chamber sees as catering for civic and youth activity which they forecast will increase with the influx of burgeoning population on Killarney Road as the 67 new houses there are fully occupied.
The options for such a centre in the chamber’s view are: the ground floor of JK O’Connors; the Ivy Leaf Art Centre or the Carnegie Building in totality enabling the extension of the Hub capacity upstairs and a civic centre downstairs.
There is a plan for ‘Greenway Connections’ and a county plan is before the members and that too is to be followed by a process of consultation.
A Castleisland Town Park initiative and funding proposals is being looked at in conjunction with the river-walk development as is the promotion of a tourism product for Castleisland district, Sliabh Luachra, Knightsmountain and Lyrecrompane areas with meetings planned with Kerry County Council’s tourism department.
Other topics under the scope of the chamber is the severe lack of accommodation of all kinds in the region which is limiting the development of the town with regards to big events.
Trough traffic is another problem which has come to light very recently as Google is sending heavy traffic via Cordal and Glountane to Cork and this is resulting in traffic hazards at various locations on the way and at dangerous turns.
Internal town traffic on Creamery Lane is should be on a one-way system as a mitigation of the dangers to residents stepping out their doors onto the lane.
An agreement has been reached with Castleisland Co-Op Mart and a new boundary fence is in place with road upgrading there now on the cards.
The resurfacing of the road to An Ríocht Athletic Club at The Crageens was welcomed and it was suggested that the Creamery Lane / Mart and An Ríocht loop should be named.
Not all the items on the chamber’s agenda got an airing at that July meeting but there were some notable omissions not favoured by time constraints.
Among these were: Proposals for a footpath from the Garda Eugene Leonard Roundabout on Killarney Road to the nearby Cahernard - the provision of which would complete a safe loop with Tralee Road along the southern by-pass.
“The importance of the ‘Master Plan’ funding is that it should lead to a town plan to be agreed after public consultation and the liberation of substantial funding for the regeneration of the town and its environs,” said Mr. Kearney. So now!