Planning permission has been granted for a new community hub and business centre on the site of the former St. Mary’s Convent in Laytown to serve the East Meath area.
Welcoming the development local Fianna Fáil Councillor Stephen McKee said he had been lobbying for such facilities in East Meath to meet the needs of workers in the new Covid and future post-Covid area.
“With many residents now working remotely, delivering community and business hubs has never been more important so this comes as an early Christmas present for business promotion in the area” he said.
“Encouraging people to work from home or from community working hubs will mean less commuting, more time for family and leisure, fewer greenhouse emissions and cleaner air will be among the benefits.
‘We also need to look at how we can use facilities in the community as remote working hubs” he added and revealed that he has proposed that a business hub be included in the plans for the new Library and Community building for Bettystown.
“I am also working with the Management Committee of the new Duleek/Bellewstown Community Facility on something similar for the new building.
“These new facilities have the potential to not only be places for community use but also as a base for local people in business who wish to avail of broadband, meet like-minded individuals and share ideas and support one another.
“With more and more people able and wishing to work from home, we need to also do all we can to provide the broadband provision that they need both for work and entertainment purposes” he concluded.
