By Chris Ashmore
LETTERKENNY is set to get a major €26 million plus face-lift that will see a number of high-profile projects being developed in the town over the next few years.
Of this, €19.5m has been secured by Donegal County Council’s Regeneration and Development Team under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).
Major projects include the redevelopment of the old Courthouse, the development of the Cathedral Quarter with a new urban park, the redevelopment of the Market Square, the establishment of a transport hub, the second phase of the Green Connect link and regeneration works for the town’s Main Street.
The Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny-Milford MD, Cllr. Gerry McMonagle has called on the local authority to have a public consultation process on the future of the Main Street area, and to get the views of businesses, residents and users of the area.
“What can we do with Main Street going forward?” he asked.
Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh, who supported the motion, noted that they will be meeting with the Chamber of Commerce as part of the process.
In an official reply, Cllr. McMonagle was told that the new-look Market Square plans, the Courthouse redevelopment and the Cathedral Quarter Park “are progressing at pace” with work on the Market Square expected to start next year.
Each of these projects has or will in the future involve public consultation.
The URDF is geared towards sustainable development, as envisaged under Project Ireland 2040. Established by the Government, It does this by part-funding regeneration and rejuvenation projects in Ireland’s cities and large towns.
The biggest allocation for Letterkenny under the URDF was €7.5 million towards the €10 million Cathedral Quarter Park.
As previously revealed by the Donegal News, this will include a new park in lands between the Main Street and Lower Ard O’Donnell.