Have your say in the future vision for your town!
To take part in the Online Survey and the Open Days planned for your Town, please review your towns’ information poster below. The survey is available online from Tuesday 1st October - Friday 15th November.
Link to the Online Survey for Castlepollard - https://forms.office.com/e/d4jVakDjA4
The Castlepollard Town Team was formed on 8th February, 2024 from the relevant Sector Groups which were selected by all persons at the Town Team Meeting.
| Sector Groups | |
| Community & Voluntary Social Inclusion & Age Friendly Environment/Climate Action/Biodiversity Business/Commercial/Social Enterprise Elected Members/Political Sport Education Youth & Children Development Associations Residents Associations Arts/Culture Heritage & Conservation Tidy Towns Religious Groups Agriculture/Transport New Communities Disability and Mental Health Tourism |
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Following the formation of the Town Team, the members elected Officers to the following roles:-
Westmeath County Council are now working with the newly formed Town Team in relation to available funding streams, on how to develop working groups and to review the Expression of Interest Forms which are being submitted by interested persons who wish to fill the positions still vacant in the various Sector Groups of the Town Team.
The Westmeath County Council Community Development Section and The Regeneration Section are planning to work with the Castlepollard Community to form a Town Team for Castlepollard.
It is proposed to hold the first public information meeting about the formation process for a Town Team on Thursday 25th January 2024 at 7pm at the Castle Varagh Hotel.
The idea of forming town teams to represent and provide a single voice for all the Community Organisations, Individuals and Stakeholder groups in a Locality, Town or Village springs from pilot projects that formed Town Teams in selected counties from 2018 and has been developed further in the Town Centre First Policy published in February 2022. The Town Team can act as a support and experience forum where community representatives from all the community sectors can meet in a formal setting to discuss and plan the common objectives for the good of the community they serve and represent.
Westmeath Co. Council has supported the formation of a Town Team in Moate Co. Westmeath, formed in February 2023. The plan now is to generate a programme to progress the formation of a Town Team in Castlepollard with the formal process starting in January 2024.
The Town Team membership comprises of representatives from:
The poster below will be issued to various locations in Castlepollard and on social media outlets such as the Westmeath County Council face book page and Castlepollard.ie
Updates will be issued over time on this web page and on social media.
To regenerate Castlepollard, building on the unique architectural heritage of the Town Square and Green, creating space for the community and visitors alike, restoring the Market House and delivering a Town Park, establishing Castlepollard as base, from where visitors will explore the many sights of North Westmeath, enhancing the towns critical role as an economic driver for the region.
Regeneration Project Description:
The project comprises 3 distinct elements:
The Market House itself will be renovated to accommodate both community and tourism facilities; The prestige of the green will be re-established; reintroducing the historical focal point of the town and establishing a centre for community, tourism and heritage purposes.
The provision of the centrally located multi-purpose Town Park with universal access will bring huge benefit to residents whilst also bringing added value to the tourist offering.
The development of a tourism brand and marketing strategy for North Westmeath, centred on Castlepollard and the surrounding attractions, such as Tullynally Castle and Fore Abbey, etc.
Westmeath County Council’s Regeneration Team has secured funding to bring the project to a shovel ready status, from the Rural Regeneration and Development (RRDF) funding. Further funding will be required in order to proceed to construction.
Westmeath County Council has appointed a Joint Venture of Cooney Architects and Keys Monaghan Architects (CAKMJV) to lead an Integrated Design Team for Castlepollard Town Park, Market House, and Public Realm. The consultant will aid Westmeath County Council in the design and advancing the Park, Public Realm and Market House elements of the project through planning consent.
A Community Needs Assessment that was carried out online in October 2021, informed the design proposals. Ongoing meetings with the Castlepollard Regeneration Community Forum will inform detail design.
In April 2022, planning permission for both the Market House refurbishment and the Proposed Town park were granted.
In November 2022, Minister Heather Humphreys announced that the Rural Regeneration Fund will support the Castlepollard Regeneration Project with a grant of €3.8million. The project will require additional match funding from Westmeath County Council bringing the total Regeneration Fund for Castlepollard to €4.7million.
The Chief Executive Pat Gallagher of Westmeath County Council welcomed the announcement, stating:
“I welcome the positive news of this significant RRDF funding which will provide much needed Community Facilities in the refurbished Market House, bringing vitality and viability to the town centre. The Regeneration Project will also deliver a Town Park, supporting healthier lifestyles and increased footfall within the town”
The proposal for the former Market House refurbishment is intended to positively enhance and regenerate the area with the development of an attractive and sustainable community hub for the benefit of residents, visitors and businesses and the creation of a place where communities can thrive.
Image: Artistic Impression of the Market House proposal viewed from Mullingar Road
Image: Artistic Impression of the Market House proposal viewed from The Square with St Michaels Church of Ireland in the background
Image: Artistic Impression of the Proposed Town Park with Castlepollard Library in the foreground.
The proposal for the Town Park and Associated Pedestrian/Cycle Link is intended to positively enhance and regenerate the area with the creation of an active, sustainable amenity for residents and visitors alike.
Image: Map showing the boundary around the proposed Town Park and lands for Pedestrian/Cycle Link to the Town Centre and to Castlepollard Community College.
The Design Team are currently investigating opportunities to make improvements to the wider Public Realm in The Square and further details will be made available in due course.
The Regeneration Team can be contacted at
Regeneration Project Team,
Westmeath County Council,
Áras an Chontae,
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath. N91 FH4N
Tel. 044-9332000
Email: regen@westmeathcoco.ie
