BMW Regional Assembly’s Gateway Fund wins Local Government Award

The BMW Regional Assembly won the award for best Strategic Economic Development project at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards at a ceremony in Dublin last Thursday evening. The award was accepted by Councillor Joe Flanagan, Cathaoirleach of the BMW Regional Assembly, from Mr John Gormley, TD, Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government.  Councillor Flanagan stated that the award recognised the positive impact that the structural funds investment in the BMW Region is having on the economic development of the region, especially in these challenging times.

The award was in recognition of the Assembly’s allocation of €17.15m under the European Regional Development Fund to urban development and regeneration projects in the Gateways and Hub Towns in the BMW region. The aim of the Gateway and Hubs Grant Scheme is to support investments that contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of the Gateways and Hub Towns as places to live, work and invest in and improve their development potential through enhancement of their economic, social and environmental conditions.  All project proposals were required to demonstrate that they had obtained community support through a wide public consultation process; and had the support of relevant elected councils and contribute positively to community life. In addition, projects were required to demonstrate that they have good urban design in that they integrate well into the natural and or built environment; and, contribute to the sustainable development of gateways and hubs towns.

In the Midlands, €1.45m has been allocated towards the Athlone Art Gallery and €1.2m each to both the Mullingar Cycle Network and the Canal Corridor in Tullamore.

In Sligo, €2.4m has been allocated towards the redevelopment and refurbishment of the Model Arts and Niland Gallery and provision of outdoor performance spaces.

The Dundalk Gateway was allocated €1.9m towards the redevelopment of Market Square in the centre of the town.

Letterkenny has been awarded €0.7m towards the re-paving and refurbishment of Upper Main Street along with enhanced traffic management and pedestrian linkages.

Galway City has been awarded €2m towards the cost of a strategic bus and cycle corridor, subject to confirmation of co-financing by the Department of Transport.

The Mayo Hub Towns of Castlebar and Ballina have each been awarded €1.4m.  In Ballina, this will fund the refurbishment of Pearse Street along with the addition of a link road to Market Square and the refurbishment of a former bank on Pearse Street to house the Jackie Clarke Library and Archives.  In Castlebar, the funding will go towards town centre streetscape refurbishment and the development of the river walk as an amenity corridor.
 
Monaghan Town has been awarded €750,000 towards the enhancement and refurbishment of the Dublin Street area of the town and the provision of enhanced recreation and amenity facilities.

Cavan Hub Town has been awarded €1.4m towards the construction of the Eastern Access Route in the town.

Tuam Hub Town has been awarded €1.35m towards the refurbishment of the Shambles Square and its environs, the enhancement and energy proofing of public amenities and towards Tuam’s Smart Town initiative, coinciding with a major water services investment that is about to commence in the town.

Mr. Gerry Finn, Director of the BMW Regional Assembly welcomed the award and stated that the selected projects will greatly enhance the potential of the Gateways and Hub Towns, making them more attractive places in which to live, work and invest.  “This scheme, which is co-funded by the EU Structural Funds under the Regional Operational Programme, represents a continuation of the Assembly’s commitment to the development of the BMW Region’s Gateways and Hubs as designated under the National Spatial Strategy framework and prioritised in the BMW Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013. The diverse initiatives proposed by the Gateway and Hub local authorities are making a significant contribution to the economic, environmental, social and cultural development of these cities and towns in the BMW Region”.