Balbriggan Councillors united in major government funding application.
Balbriggan councillors will seek to attract funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development fund for major improvement to areas of the town. A group has come together following the announcement from Fingal County Council in April of the development of a new and wide-ranging socio-economic strategy for Balbriggan. The formulation of the strategy overseen by a high-level Leadership Group chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of Dublin City University.
The Balbriggan Leadership Group comprises of the united Balbriggan Councillors, Cllr Maguire, Cllr Quinn and Cllr Murphy together with Senior Fingal County Council officials and people selected from key public and private sector stakeholders across the four main pillar themes of Local Economy & Enterprise, Community Affairs & Integration, Employment, Education & Training and Public Realm & Placemaking.
Balbriggan people will have their say on shaping the socio economic strategy as the process is moving towards a public consultation phase where the people of Balbiggan community will be invited to make their views known and make suggestions and shape the strategy.
We know that Balbriggan people can be highly motivated to engage on the development plans for their town. Following a call here on Balbriggan.net over 300 people submitted their view on the Fingal County Council Public Consultation "Castlelands Master Plan". We enthusiastically await details of this public consultation phase.
Press Release:
Multi- Million euro application for Balbriggan
Balbriggan Councillors welcome Fingal County Councils commitment to submit a multimillion euro application for public domain improvements in Balbriggan.
The application will look to attract government funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund for significant improvements to the Beach, Harbour, Quay Street and Mill Pond areas of the town.
A socio economic strategy is currently being developed under 4 pillars.
Economy and Job Creation
Economy and job creation will frame new ways to attract investment to Balbriggan, building on the planned servicing of new land in Stephenson.
Community Affairs and Integration
Community affairs and integration will consider a range of issues in relation to active citizenship, diversity and integration, anti-social behaviour, policing and drug and alcohol-related issues
Public Realm and place making
Public realm and place making will build out on the original “Heart of Balbriggan” loci public realm document.
Education and training
The education and training element will be informed by the Councils skills strategy which will be complete by December. It will also assess potential for the location of Further Education College in Balbriggan. Issues around schooling and school completion rates will be considered.
Cllr Maguire, Cllr Quinn and Cllr Murphy together with the pillar chairs form the leadership group which is chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith President of DCU.
The process is now moving towards the Public Engagement phase. This will open up the process to invite comment / suggestion from the public to inform the strategy.
This is a very exciting time for Balbriggan. Already the evidence of commitment to deliver can be seen in the work currently underway on Clonard Hill Stephenstown where a €4 million new road will be completed in late 2018 servicing 53 Acres of industrial lands in the Stephenstown Industrial Area. Fingal in collaboration with Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce are already in negotiation with prospective companies to locate in the Stephenstown area.
Cllr Maguire, Cllr Quinn and Cllr Murphy would like to stress the importance of engaging in the Public Engagement stage of this process. Advance notice will be given and a reasonable time frame for delivery. “This is your Town, get involved”
Any advice or support needed please contact your local elected representative.