27 August 2021
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
Cork County Council has been allocated €320,000 to support the upgrade and enhancement of shopfront and street facades in 6 county towns through the Streetscape Enhancement Scheme. Bandon, Castletownbere, Charleville, Fermoy, Macroom and Passage West are set to receive support through the scheme, funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Grants of up to 100% or €8,000 are available to cover works including painting, signage replacement, shopfront improvement, scaffolding, materials, lighting, street furniture and planting. Business and property owners are encouraged to apply through their relevant local Municipal District Office. The closing date for applications is the 7th of September 2021.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan welcomed the scheme saying,
“Enhancing building facades and shopfronts can lead to a distinct and memorable identity for towns, reinforcing pride of place for residents and unforgettable impressions for visitors. The Streetscape Enhancement Scheme funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and distributed through Cork County Council’s Municipal District Offices will be a fantastic resource for the communities of Bandon, Castletownbere, Charleville, Fermoy, Macroom and Passage West. This scheme will enable property owners and businesses in these towns to further partake in the great community effort that goes into creating a colourful welcoming town centre.”
Deputy Chief Executive of Cork County Council, James Fogarty added,
“This funding scheme for the successful Cork County towns is most welcome, providing an excellent opportunity for communities and businesses to continue the work undertaken in the past two years side by side with the Council under Project ACT. The local focus will ensure that the selected towns will be able to best express themselves, and continue their successes in attracting visitors, placemaking, and enriching local economic and community life.”
The Streetscape Enhancement Scheme is a key part of Our Rural Future, the Government’s five-year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland and is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Present at the launch of the scheme in Bandon Town were, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan with, from left: Margaret and Pat Fitzgerald; Pat Dooley and Jonathan Kelly from Bandon Tidy Towns.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
Present at the launch of the scheme in Bandon Town were, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan with, from left: Pat Dooley, Margaret and Pat Fitzgerald of Bandon Tidy Towns; Sean O’Callaghan, Senior Executive Officer, Cork County Council; Cllr. Alan Coleman; Jonathan Kelly, Bandon Tidy Towns and Peter Abbleby from the Bandon Business Assoc.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
