The Moate Town Centre First (TCF) Plan is a non-statutory community level plan produced by the local Town Team, drawn from local community and business representatives, with the support of Westmeath County Council. It identifies the challenges, actions, and integrated responses across a number of themes (such as business/commercial; community/cultural; housing; built environment; heritage).
The Moate TCF plan, supported under the “Our Rural Future” Programme, will be action and project-orientated in nature and will assist Moate in accessing funding and investment available for town regeneration across several government departments and agencies.
The Plan has been developed in accordance with the guidance set out in the “Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns”, published by the Department of Rural and Community Development, the aim is 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.
The Moate Town Team are currently working up funding applications for the: ‘Moate Gateway Linear Park Concept.’ Some sketch ideas for the park are shown in the concept visuals below. Also available to download: Linear park Web update 01-08-23 V1
Map Biodiversity and spiritual spaces to be designed along the Moate Gateway Linear Park. Credit – Moate Town Team and Moate Action Group July 2023.
Map of the Moate Gateway Linear Park countryside location. Credit – Moate Town Team and Moate Action Group July 2023.
A flyover video explaining the ideas behind the concept has been created. Further information about the flyover can be obtained by emailing a request through to: regen@westmeathcoco.ie
The Moate Town Team unanimously endorsed the Moate Town Centre First (TCF) Plan at a meeting held at the Carmelite Centre in Moate on Wednesday evening 07th June 2023. The TCF Plan is supported under ‘Our Rural Future’ Programme.
The TCF Plan for Moate has been developed as a result of a sustained period of community and stakeholder engagement that took place between December 2022 and May 2023. The Moate Town Team along with Westmeath County Council and Planning Consultants Allies and Morrison worked to refine the public feed back into tangible themes to form the basis of the plan that creates the blueprint for the future development of Moate. The Plan is a ‘live’ document that shall be reviewed every 3 years and creates a pathway to funding opportunities.
The TCF plan has identified the strengths of Moate Town and its surroundings through a celebration of its Heritage and the towns vibrant and active community. The plan looks to explore and encourage activity and projects that enhance and rebalance the streets and public spaces and make sustainable movement an easy choice in Moate.
Artist impression of the possible future development for Moate
With community support and appropriate funding the Town Plan vision will be realised to create an attractive climate resilient town which will help to define Moate’s Image, identity and role within the wider region into the future.
The Moate Town Team will prioritise the local activation projects identified in the plan that can provide the ‘quick wins’ needed to progress the plan at a very real level on the ground.
Photo of the members of the Moate Town Team June 2023
Back row L to R: John Green, Cllr. Tom Farrell, Val Connaughton, Nick Linnane, Therese Kinahan, James Glynn, Joe Whelan, Michael Doyle, Thomas McCormack and Shane Lynam.
Front Row L to R: Kay Bannon, Elaine Howlin, Monique Rafferty, Turlough O’Brien, Cathy Gillivan, Joe Nestor and John Galvin.
Team members not pictured: Audrey Healy, Kit Gillivan, Mary Greally, Jimmy Redmond and Cllr. Vinny McCormack.
| Name | Network Represented |
|---|---|
| Turlough R O’Brien | Community & Voluntary |
| Joe Nestor | Community & Voluntary |
| Joe Whelan | Social Inclusion & Age Friendly |
| Thérèse Kinahan | Social Inclusion & Age Friendly |
| Michael Doyle | Environment/Climate Action/Biodiversity |
| Shane Lynam | Environment/Climate Action/Biodiversity |
| Nick Linnane | Business/Commercial/Social Enterprise |
| Kit Gillivan | Business/Commercial/Social Enterprise |
| Audrey Healy | Business/Commercial/Social Enterprise |
| Cllr. Vinny McCormack | Elected Members |
| Cllr. Tom Farrell | Elected Members |
| John Greene | Moate Action Group |
| Jimmy Redmond | Moate Action Group |
| Thomas McCormack | Sport |
| Cathy Gillivan | Education |
| James Glynn | Tourism |
| Mary Greally | Residents Association |
| Elaine Howlin | Residents Association |
| Kay Bannon | Heritage & Conservation |
| Val Connaughton | Heritage & Conservation |
| Monique Rafferty | Agriculture & Transport |
| John Galvin | Arts and Culture |
| Officer Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Nick Linnane |
| Vice Chairperson | Turlough R. O’Brien |
| Secretary | Cathy Gillivan |
| Assistant Secretary | Joe Whelan |
| Treasurer | James Glynn |
| Assistant Treasurer | Kit Gillivan |
| Public Relations Officer | Shane Lynam |
The Moate Town Centre First Plan will be on public display in the Moate Library from Wednesday, 21st June 2023 to Wednesday, 05th July 2023.
Regeneration Project Team,
Westmeath County Council,
Áras an Chontae,
Mullingar,
Co. Westmeath. N91 FH4N
Tel: 044-9332000
Email: regen@westmeathcoco.ie
