THERE was great engagement and lively debate at a consultation workshop for a planned project in north county Dublin.
An enthusiastic crowd of almost 70 people attended the recent event in the Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan, to discuss the Bremore Regional Park Masterplan.
Cllr Grainne Maguire (Ind), Cllr Tony Murphy (Ind) and Cllr Joe O’Brien (GP), as well as members of local community and sports clubs, were in attendance.
The event, organised by Fingal County Council’s Parks and Green Infrastructure Division, assisted by the ‘Our Balbriggan Team’, was used to introduce the project to the local community and park users.
The workshop style format of the evening worked well to gather ideas, concerns, local knowledge and priorities for the future development of the masterplan to create a park that will be treasured by the community.
A follow up workshop is planned for the autumn to present draft proposals for review and feedback before progress through to the formal planning stage.
Acting Director of Planning at Fingal County Council Matthew McAleese said he was very pleased to see the great attendance and the variety of suggestions from the participants.
“The priorities expressed were to develop the park as an accessible and inclusive space for everyone, maximising the sport and recreation potential while preserving the unique natural and historic aspects of this coastal site,” said Mr McAleese.
“Public engagement is key to this project and these priorities will inform the next stage of the process.”
Kevin Halpenny, Senior Parks Superintendent at Fingal County Council, said: “The involvement of the local community in the planning and design of Bremore Regional Park will greatly enhance its relevance to their everyday lives and help the council deliver a major new amenity for Balbriggan.”
Fingal County Council interim chief executive AnnMarie Farrelly said Bremore Castle and Regional Park form a vital element of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan.
“I am delighted to see the positive engagement from the community at the consultation workshop,” she said.
“Fingal County Council is committed to harnessing the potential of this unique site to develop a premier regional park both as a tourist destination and a vibrant recreation area for the people of Balbriggan.”
Located north of Balbriggan along the coast, the park comprises 41 hectares and includes important historic sites (most notably Bremore Castle) and landscapes, while providing significant public amenities.
A key feature of the park masterplan will be the consideration of the visual, historic and ecological attributes of the site.
The Park Development Plan will include proposals formulated to achieve the best fit between the unique characteristics of the site and provision of active recreation and strong linkages to Bremore Castle and surrounding residential areas.