Feedback is helping to shape a high quality plan for the Westgate area
Following a call last month by Louth County Council inviting interested parties to express their views and aspirations for the Westgate area of Drogheda, over 700 people have taken part in an early public consultation on the regeneration of the area.
Record numbers completed the online survey, contributing their ideas and detailing their aspirations for Westgate and this will help shape the design proposals which will be out for public consultation later this year.
The project represents the first stage of the Westgate Vision, launched by Louth County Council in 2018, which is a targeted planning response aimed at channelling investment into this core area of Drogheda.
This initial consultation is part of the brief in place for planning and regeneration consultants Turley who are working on preparation of proposals which the Council will use as part of an application for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.
This current stage of Westgate Vision streetscape masterplan project has been funded under the same URDF scheme, which is provided to support and encourage proposals for sustainable urban development or regeneration, as set out in Project Ireland 2040.
“Louth County Council are delighted that so many members of the community in Drogheda have engaged with this project and took the opportunity to have their say on improving the streetscape and supporting recovery in this area of the town” said Joan Martin, from Louth County Council.
“The feedback is helping proposals to shape a high quality plan for the Westgate area, focusing on improving public spaces and acting as a catalyst for positive regeneration and supporting development in the town centre.”
Seamus Donohoe, Director at Turley, a planning and development company working on behalf of the Council on this regeneration project, said:
“… This project has people and place at its heart, and the insights gathered through public engagement by our strategic communications team will help shape proposals and discussion within out multi-disciplinary design team.
“We are delighted with the huge response from the town, and look forward to delivering proposals that we hope will secure further funding to deliver improved public space and wider regeneration for the Westgate area of the town.”
A dedicated information event will be held at 6pm on Tuesday, 20th July 2021 to discuss the project and the survey results. Considering current public health restrictions, due to COVID -19, this session will take place digitally, via Zoom.
To sign up to the online event, please visit www.westgatevision.ie.
Members of the public can also contact the project team by emailing contact@westgatevision.ie or by calling the Freephone consultation hotline: 1800-010101.
