PROGRESS has been far too slow with the proposed Clifden Regeneration Plan, a local councillor claimed at last Friday’s Conamara Area meeting in County Hall.

Cllr. Eileen Mannion (FG) said that the plan had been in train since the last general election and now with another election coming up ‘progress was still very slow’.

“This will be great for the town – if it happens – but it’s taking an awful long time to move things on. A key issue for local people and businesses will be the provision of alternative parking spaces close to the town centre,” said Cllr. Mannion.

At Friday’s meeting, a Galway County Council update on the Regeneration Plan was presented to councillors which outlined what the next steps would be as regards the project.

According to the Council report, it has been determined that planning consent is needed involving the preparation of a Natura Impact Statement – the planning submission would then be submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

“The Regeneration Team are in receipt of the draft planning pack from the project design team which is currently under review.

“It is anticipated, that subject to no significant amendments being required, an application to An Bord Pleanála will proceed in October, 2024,” the Council update stated.

The report added that Galway County Council remained committed to identify a suitable location to develop additional off-street parking adjacent to Clifden town centre in order to support the future development of the enhancement plan.

To be financed under the Government’s Rural and Regional Development Fund [RRDF], the project will focus on three specific locations – The Town Centre Public Realm, the Harbour Park and Beach Road Quay.

The Town Centre Public Realm element of the project will focus on providing better connectivity between the town centre and other key areas such as the railway station with more footways and civic space to be provided.

A new Harbour Park is to be located between the wooded hills to the north and west – and the estuary at Clifden Bay to the south. This could also include an outdoor amphitheatre event space.

According to a consultant’s reported presented to councillors in 2022, the third part of the revamp – Beach Road Quay – offered ‘fantastic views’ of the Owenglin Estuary and the Atlantic.

However, the report pointed out that as things stand at present, Beach Road Quay posed potential traffic-safety risks to pedestrians with no pavements currently provided.

Clifden town dates back to 1812 and its founder John D’Arcy – it was a unique development for its time, in that it was a ‘planned town’ with a square as its market and commercial centre.

The town is also famous in history, being the location for the first transatlantic Marconi wireless message in 1907, while in 1919, Alcock and Browne completed the first ever transatlantic non-stop flight when they landed in Clifden on Sunday, June 15 of that year.

Pictured Clifden: Regeneration plan in the pipeline.