Town plan for Enfield suggests 15 projects focused around the Main Street, the Square, the Bypass and the Dublin Road
The draft Enfield Town Centre First Plan which will help shape the future development of the town was unveiled to the local community at an event on Saturday.
Consultants Paul Hogarth and Company were appointed by Meath County Council to develop the plan and a number of community events were already held to get feedback on what should be included.
Central to development of town centre first plans was the establishment of a Town Team, representing various interest groups and organisations and the Enfield Town Team worked with Meath County Council and the Paul Hogarth consultants over the summer on the plan.
The draft Town Centre First plan for Enfield suggests 15 projects focused around the Main Street, the Square, the Bypass and the Dublin Road.
It is proposed to redesign the Main Street to increase space for pedestrians and cyclists while managing vehicle speeds and car parking. This would include stone paving, street trees and better lighting with overhead cables to be buried.
The plan notes that Enfield lacks a central civic space where the community can come together and events can take place. It is proposed that a "square" or civic space be developed at the rear of the recently opened Community Hub.
However, Meath County Council already has plans for a park and ride facility at that location that predate the town first process, with a part eight planning application expected to go on public display shortly and it is also included in the Meath County Development Plan.
Local residents now have the chance to express their views on what should happen with the area by making a submission as part of the consultation on the town centre first plan as well as on any future part eight planning application that is brought forward for the site.
It is an objective of the town centre first plan to revisit the design of the bypass to reduce traffic congestion and also to improve the public realm on the Dublin Road with a focus on walking and cycling connections between the town centre and new developments.
The draft plan aims to provide greater linkages between the Royal Canal Greenway and Enfield. A new town park linking the centre with the Canal at the Rath site is also suggested.
Councillor Ronan Moore, one of two elected representatives on the Town Team is encouraging local people have their voices heard by taking part in the public consultation on the plan.
“Working intensively over the summer, representatives of the community have met to develop this draft plan, a plan that was founded on an initial community consultation from July 2022. And from this process, and a productive period of collaboration between all parties, the Town Team have come up with 15 draft Town Centre Projects. Now, it is back to the public to review these ideas and provide further feedback on them and whether they match the desire, ambition and aspirations of the community. I would encourage all residents of Enfield to view the plans, which are available www.consult.meath.ie/ and submit their comments and ideas,” he said.
Angela Smith, who is Enfield Development Group's representative on the Town Team, said: "We took the feedback from the initial survey in 2022 and, working with the consultants from The Paul Hogarth Company and Meath County Council, I think we have come up with a really exciting and ambitious set of projects that could see Enfield transformed into a more vibrant and attractive town, that we can all be proud to live and work in. We really hope now that the public will engage with this draft plan, consider all the projects, and give us their feedback on what they like or don't like and any other changes or suggestions they have on what they want to see in Enfield."
The plan is on public display from 2nd to 24th September and members of the public can give their feedback on consult.meath.ie