Town Centre First Consultation for Enfield
- Enfield Development Group Admin
- Sep 3, 2023
- 3 min read
What is the Town Centre First (TCF) Draft Plan that was launched on Saturday 2nd September 2023 at the Hub in Enfield and why is it important?
Over the next 3 weeks, YOU have the ability to influence the future of the town you choose to call home.
One town in every county was selected for the new Government Town Centre First Initiative which aims to create town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit, while also functioning as the service, social, cultural and recreational hub for the local community.
Enfield is the town selected in Co Meath.
Meath Co Co got funding to appoint a consultancy firm (Paul Hogarth Group). The consultants did an initial survey of the town and a public consultation back in July 22. There was then a bit of a delay waiting on more info from the Dept on the TCF process, and for the council to appoint a Town Regeneration Officer.
In June 23 the Enfield Town Team (TT) was formed with membership from local residents, groups and businesses. The TT have spent the Summer working with the consultants and Meath Co Co, going through the results of the initial survey and developing a series of projects that we believe will improve the town and specifically the Town Centre area.
This is the DRAFT PLAN was launched on Saturday.
These projects are high level 'concept' type projects, and what is really needed from Enfield residents is to look at the plan, consider these projects and decide if this is how you would like to see the town develop. In most cases the projects don't contain specifics, for example one is to make the Main street more pedestrian and cycle friendly with improved traffic management, but it doesn't specify how exactly that will be achieved, as that will require specific expertise and in depth analysis to design. But if the majority of people indicate their support for it, then the Council and TT can go look for funding to make it happen.
The Government has indicated that there will be funding made available to progress projects that come out of the TCF process.
Obviously not everything can be done at once, BUT at least we will have a framework and plan to work towards, that already has the public's support, which should make it easier to access funding.
So what do we do now?
PLEASE, PLEASE do engage with this process. What projects do you like, not like? What do you feel is missing? What needs to be tweaked? What specifically do you want to see and where? View the draft plan on Meath County Council's website (This link will open in a new page), and use the online feedback form to share your opinion, feedback and thoughts.
All the submissions to the Draft Plan will be reviewed and assessed before the Final Plan is published. While we cannot say that everything will be possible, it is far more likely to happen if it is contained in the TCF plan, so this is YOUR opportunity to get YOUR opinions and ideas across, and influence how Enfield develops into the future.
FAQs?
At the launch of this 3 week process on Saturday 2nd September, members of the Town Team fielded lots of great questions from residents who had great questions, concerns, and ideas about the future of the town. The EDG (who had some reps in attendance) have compiled as many of the recurring questions as possible below so you can review.
What is the best way to vote for a project?
The Best and ONLY way to have your input taken into account is to either: 1. Complete the online feedback form (link will open in new tab), or 2. Go to the Community Hub (Old ESB Building) during the time it will be open for public feedback on the plan. There you can complete a written version of the feedback form. (Telling someone, writing on Facebook, singing from the rooftops - while cathartic, will not have any influence on the process)
Does this mean no Park and ride for the old esb hub?
*Project B The Square *
There were some questions at the launch about Project B The Square and the proposal being prepared by the Local Authority. Just to clarify, this proposal relates to the County Development Plan objective to put in a park and ride at this location.
Because this objective was already part of the Development Plan the Town Team could not change it, or propose a different use for this site in the Town Centre First Plan. However we would encourage people to give their feedback on the park and ride proposal, both as part of this TCF draft plan consultation and any future Part 8 Local Authority consultation. Whether you are for or against it, please let us know your views on this, and the other projects, by completing the online survey for the Draft Plan.
Is there any money behind this or is it all aspirational?
Yes. The Town Centre First programme has been launched around the country. There IS a collective budget available for all towns, as well as allowing local councils access existing funding sources where projects agreed by the town residents would qualify. Once the final plan has been agreed, it will be used by the Town Regeneration Officer for Meath along with Meath County Council as a basis to organise and prioritise which projects to progress for funding. (The weight of the resident's feedback and support for these will have a large factor in the funding process.)
Is the Main Street becoming pedestrian only?
This question arose from Project A, which envisages an Enfield that will promote more cycling, walking and non vehicular use as the best way to get about the town. No where on the proposals currently does it advocate for complete pedestrianisation, nor turning the main street into a 5 lane highway. If the ethos of this project gets enough public support, the likely first step would be a proper deep dive consultation on the whole area to come up with options for a redesign - which again, would need to go to the residents of Enfield through the planning process for their feedback and thoughts.
Is the community centre going to be used at all as part of this or will it be demolished?
The community centre (old Parish Hall), currently - for the first time - has a potential funding path to be returned to public use. The Town Centre First process does cover the area that the hall sits on, and these plans for the hall can be revisited should public feedback suggest alternative uses.
Could Enfield become an Autism friendly town like Maynooth? Could this be incorporated in TCF?
This is a great question, and one which could be covered in more detail on the Inclusivity section of the plan. Enfield can be an encompassing town for everyone - young, old, of all abilities and neurodiversity. Again, feeding back into the process is the ONLY way to get all voices heard.
I don’t agree with something on the draft plan - how do I let my feeling be known
The Best and ONLY way to have your input taken into account is to either: 1. Complete the online feedback form (link will open in new tab), or 2. Go to the Community Hub (Old ESB Building) during the time it will be open for public feedback on the plan. There you can complete a written version of the feedback form.
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