Consultants KPMG Future Analytics were commissioned by Laois County Council in June 2022 to undertake a Town Centre First Masterplan for Rathdowney in collaboration with the Rathdowney Town Team. After considerable fieldwork and consultation, the draft masterplan is now ready for public review. The plan charts out how Rathdowney town centre can be transformed into a dynamic meeting place with a strong economic role. This draft Town Centre First Masterplan is available to view on Laois County Council’s website from Tuesday 23rd May 2023 until Tuesday 6th June 2023. A copy is also available to view in the Rathdowney library and the offices of Laois County Council, Portlaoise from Wednesday 24th May 2023.
The plan will guide the regeneration of the town and provide the basis for future funding applications by the Local Authority. For the plan to best fit the needs of the town and those who live and work in it, it will be important to hear from the people it is designed to help.
Accordingly, the Town Regeneration Officer and the Town Team have arranged for KPMG Future Analytics to host two in-person consultation clinics as part of the ongoing consultation for the ‘Rathdowney Town Centre First Plan’. These clinics will allow the people of Rathdowney to give their opinions and also their input into the draft Town Centre First Masterplan.
Location and Dates:
Public Consultation Clinics will be held in the Rathdowney library as follows:
Workshop no 1, Tuesday 30th May: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Workshop no 2, Tuesday 30th May: 2:00pm – 5:00pm
For people who cannot attend either workshop, you can view the draft Town Centre First Masterplan here and submit an online observation, or by emailing your submission to drainey@laoiscoco.ie by Tuesday 6thnd June 2023 at 5pm.
Rathdowney is one of 26 towns across the country that has received funding to develop a Town Centre First Masterplan which aims to map out future development, focus on tackling dereliction and vacant properties, and make the town centre a more attractive place to live, work, socialise and run a business. This initiative aims to help re-imagine and revitalise rural communities as part of the National Town Centre First Policy.
If anyone has any queries in relation to the draft Town Centre First Masterplan, they should contact Denise Rainey, Town Regeneration Officer 0868478631.