There’s mixed views on the new redevelopment plan for Shannon Town.
Clare County Council recently published it’s Draft Masterplan for the town which aims to provide more housing, a more varied retail offering and new amenities to support healthier lifestyles.
The new Draft Masterplan is the latest in a handful of development plans for Shannon, but it’s hoped this will be the one to take off.
Acknowledging that the town currently ‘lacks definition’, the plan aims to provide a ‘clear and shared vision’ for development over the next fifteen years.
Clare County Council has set out a number of targets such as a mixture of new residential housing types, including the redevelopment of the Skycourt Shopping Centre and a new housing quarter around the Town Park.
The current R471 will be downgraded and the roundabout linking it with the N19 will be removed to make way for an ‘expanded and reinvigorated’ green Town Square area.
But Shannon Independent Councillor Gerry Flynn believes it offers very little compared to the three other major plans for the town over the past two decades.
There will also be a new ‘One Shannon’ civic, community and cultural hub combining the Town Hall, a performing arts venue and a greenhouse and garden.
Members of the public will be able to view the plans up until August 20th and Chairman of the Shannon Venue, Derek Barrett is urging people to make their views known.
He believes there are some positive elements contained in the plan, but he says the most important thing is to get moving on it.
