Sligo - News and Views

muffler

jwb1 wrote:

only saving grace was the gorgeous Eastern European staff....

And did they love you long time

Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip overall.

slavigo

jwb1 wrote:

....

Glad to hear you had a good time. Fine distance to come alright though, just hope it was worth it.

Gillie

County Manager’s vision for developing Sligo

THE opening up of the Cleveragh area for new housing, commercial and amenity opportunities is seen as an important element in the future development of Sligo.

A development strategy for what is called Sligo’s “South Eastern Quadrant” has been described by Sligo County Manager Hubert Kearns as “a major initiative”.

He said it “entails the development of the new Eastern bridge and approach roads, the regeneration of the Cranmore/Abbeyquarter area, the development of the Cleveragh lands as a regional recreation and amenity campus and the provision of a new race course for Sligo.

“This suite of developments will open up new housing, commercial and amenity opportunities and the local authority will have a leading role to play in delivering these projects.”

Mr Kearns’ “vision for developing Sligo city” is outlined in the summer edition of the Sligo local authorities’ magazine Contact.

The County Manager said that Sligo Borough Council was considering putting forward the strategy as a proposal to get some of the •300 million available for Gateways under the national development plan.

“There is an excellent opportunity for Sligo to attract significant support through the Government Innovation Fund.”

But he also feels Sligo faces a number of challenges in achieving its potential.

“It is the smallest of the designated gateways, and we are heavily dependent on the European Union and on the strength of the US economy. But there is much we can do locally in terms of showing leadership and achieving consensus as to the way forward, and to market Sligo to a wider audience.”

Mr Kearns said that “growing and developing” Sligo city was a key objective for Sligo local authorities in the coming years.

“It is proven that successful regions are built around attractive and vibrant cities and businesses will invariably be attracted to places with high quality infrastructure and services.” In this context he feels Sligo is very well positioned as key centre for economic growth in the north west.

He pointed to major infrastructural projects such as the inner Relief Road and initiatives presently being progressed such as the Eastern bridge and the Western Distributor Road and the new water treatment plant at Kilsellagh.

He also referred to enhancing the urban environment, with the pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street as the first step in enhancement of the city centre.

He also mentioned projects such as the new Riverside walkway, the promenade and recreation area underway at Carton Bay, rejuvenation of the Doorly Park area, a new recreation area on the site of the old swimming pool at Hughes Bridge, and “exciting plans” for new civic spaces in Quay Street and Stephen Street car parks.

He also said the next few years will see the delivery of major sporting facilities at Forthill, Doorly Park, Cleveragh and Cartron, as well as improving existing amenity areas such as Mitchell Curley Park.

Mr Kearns referred to developing cultural tourism with the plans for the new cultural quarter, which will include the refurbished Model Niland Gallery and the new museum.

He said the growing and development of Sligo must be carried out in a planned and structured manner.

“Sligo local authorities have worked with the various communities to prepare and publish frameworks for the future, from the Sligo and Environs Development Plan, Sligo City Centre Block Masterplan, Ballinode Area Plan and the North Fringe Area Plan.

“In essence we are building new communities, and the plans for the Cranmore/Abbeyquarter area will see entire new communities in our East Ward.”




If the racecourse is moved to Cloonamahon as planned, I would hope they do something decent with the current one.
A huge park would be great although it'll probably end up as more feckin houses!

Essexboy

This is all about Sligo TOWN! What about the rest of the county eg North Sligo? We have no broadband (except for line of sight wireless), the sewerage systems are overloaded but the builders are allowed to put up more houses. It is easier to shop in Ballyshannon or even Bundoran than go into Sligo.
We need better access to Enniskillen with its lower prices; then we can vote with our feet and shop there.

AlmightyCushion

Essexboy wrote:

We have no broadband (except for line of sight wireless),

You've got eircom to thank for that. Nothing but a bunch of clowns that lot. Hopefully smart start expanding aggressively and the government gives comreg some power.

Gillie

Essexboy wrote:

We need better access to Enniskillen with its lower prices; then we can vote with our feet and shop there.

Years ago maybe. But the prices are only good on beer and "Iceland" now!:rolleyes:
I agree about the road though. N16 is a disgrace!

magnumlady

I agree Gillie, last time I went up there I didn't get much value for money at all.
Not like in the good old days when there was Safeway and I used to get 10 bags of shopping for about £20.
The road is a joke, I reckon who ever made that had one too many.

Gillie

It's an extremely dangerous stretch between Manorhamilton and Enniskillen.
I would head to Monaghan & Drogheda/Dundalk a lot on business and I always hate the thought of that journey.

There are plans to upgrade the N16 but god knows when it will happen!

Gillie

From sligoborough.ie:
01/10/2007 - Abbey Street Taxi Rank Welcomed

Taxi drivers in Sligo have welcomed the announcement of the opening of a second rank on Abbey Street. The new Abbey Street rank will have 23 spaces. This announcement comes as a welcome addition to the present rank at Quay Street which has 19 spaces.

At September’s Ordinary Meeting, Senior Executive Engineer Michael Carty thanked the Town’s 200 Taxi Drivers, the traders and the Council for their engagement and support as it was with their cooperation that the area at Abbey Street was agreed on.



Good stuff!
For those of us who don't want to have to walk all the way from VR/Toffs/Envy to the rank on Quay street thus not risking our lives (or diet!) by going by the 4 lights!

Gillie

‘Move airport to Collooney’ idea

A SUGGESTION that Sligo Airport should be moved from Strandhill to a new site at Collooney has been made by those protesting at the plans to extend the runway at the airport.

At a meeting last week between members of the Dorrin’s and Cummeen Strand Conservation Group (DCCG) and local councillors, it was argued that even if the runway was extended the airport would still be restricted in the type of aircraft it could accommodate.

A number of people pointed out that even with the proposed runway extension, Sligo Airport in its current location would still experience severe limitations.

In a statement, the conservation group said: “The airport would only be able to cater for the same type of turbo prop aircraft currently used. So even with the destruction of Dorrin’s Strand the airport would provide no extra benefits.

“There is no prospect that, even with the extension, the airport could handle jet aircraft similar to those used by Ryanair, Easyjet or Aer Lingus for carrying larger numbers of passengers directly to continental Europe. It will therefore not be able to provide the kind of air access that Sligo - the Gateway City, needs and deserves.”

It was suggested by several people present that the best location for a new Sligo airport, to replace the current one, was somewhere close to main arterial road routes.

“The project should be to build an airport with a runway long enough to accommodate jet aircraft and which would provide adequate air access to the North-West region for the next 50 years, and integrated with other modes of transport.

“Many people present were attracted to the idea of building a new replacement airport on a greenfield site close to N4/N17 in the Collooney area. This would leave the lands currently owned by the airport in Strandhill available for more sensitive development.”

The group described their meeting with local councillors as “useful” and a “very constructive exchange of views”.

The councillors who attended included Albert Higgins, Sean Mac-Manus, Imelda Henry, Declan Bree, Tony McLoughlin, and Jim McGarry. Cllr Deirdre Healy McGowan sent apologies.

PASSENGERS using the new Manchester to Sligo flight may think that Sligo Airport has already moved to Collooney.

The flight information board at Manchester Airport shows the Sligo flights as “Sligo, Collooney”. It is also listed as such on many international aviation websites.

This comes from the fact that when Sligo Aero Club was founded in 1975 they were using an airstrip located at Annaghmore between Collooney and Coolaney on land lent to them by the O’Hara family. They used it until 1979 when they moved to Strandhill.




Certainly an interesting idea! Thoughts?

Gillie

From the Weekender:


Massive hotel, apartments and shops plan shot down

A PLAN for a massive hotel, apartments and shops development in Sligo has been shot down by An Bord Pleanala.

The complex, on a five acres site on the Bundoran road, was to involve a six-storey 91-bedroom hotel with a further 35 two-bedroom suites in an adjoining block, as well as 56 apartments, seven shops and a two-storey crèche.


Sligo Borough Council had to actually vote to contravene its own development plan to allow it to grant planning permission for the project to three Donegal businessmen, Rossa McCosker, Seamus Fullerton and Peadar McGinty.


Mr McCosker is well-known in Sligo through his involvement with Castle Hardware and a big development planned for the Castle Street/High Street area.


But the grant of planning permission was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by a local resident, Celia O’Dowd of Avondale, Ballytivnan.


However, as it transpired the planning appeals board decision to turn down the development was not based on any of the concerns raised by her.


They also went against the views of their own inspector, who had recommended that approval be granted.


In the end the board’s decision to refuse permission was based on the plans to upgrade the N15, with a planned dual-carriageway section from the Hughes Bridge to at least Rathcormack and possibly beyond.


An Bord Pleanala said that “in deciding not to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to grant permission, the board noted the importance to the region of the N15 National Primary Road, that the preliminary design for the upgrading of this road will not be completed before 2009 and that, until then, it will not be known with certainty whether the set-back line for the proposed hotel/apartment/retail development, as required by the planning authority, will be adequate to accommodate any future junction on the N15 at this location”.


The site is at the junction of the N15 with the link road over to the Old Bundoran Road, opposite Mullen’s Esso filling station. On part of it at present are disused warehouses, formerly occupied by Mangan’s Cash and Carry and Fyffe’s.


Under the Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010 the site is zoned as Business, Industry and Technology Parks. Residential uses, shops and hotels are not normally permitted under this zoning objective.


But after a resolution councillors to materially contravene the development plan, the planning authority decided to grant permission subject to 24 conditions.


The National Roads Authority had suggested that the development might interfere with the proposed upgrade of the N15 to a dual carriageway.



Among the grounds of appeal by Celia O’Dowd was that the scale and design of the proposed development was out of keeping with the prevailing character of development in the area, which is comprised of two storey houses.


She claimed that the development would lead to overlooking of her property and a significant loss of privacy and that the proposal would result in over-development of the site with an inadequate amount of open space.


She expressed concerns in relation to a plan for a park in the area and a neighbourhood centre. She also raised the issue of the contravention of the development plan and claimed the development would result in an increased traffic hazard in the area.


However, the An Bord Pleanala inspector Stephen O’Sullivan, felt that because houses in the Avondale estate would be a minimum of 40 metres from the southern boundary of the site, the development would not unduly overlook the houses at Avondale or be overbearing in views from them.


He also said that having regard to the location of the site beside a major road on the approaches to the centre of Sligo town, and to the pattern of development in the surrounding area, he considered that, notwithstanding the zoning objective, the proposed commercial and residential uses would be acceptable.


He also felt that the scale and design of the proposed buildings would be appropriate to their setting and that the development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience.


The scale of the project


THE project would involve the construction of three main blocks.


BLOCK A (six storeys overall) was to consist of a 91 bedroom hotel, including function rooms, meeting rooms, conference room restaurant and lounge, bar and leisure centre.


BLOCK B (five and six storeys overall) was to have 35 hotel suites (two bedrooms and a living room), two retail units and 35 two-bedroom apartment units.


BLOCK C (three and four storeys overall) was to comprise five retail units 21 two-bedroom apartment units and a two-storey crèche.


There were also to be 248 car parking spaces to serve the overall development 179 underground and 69 surface car parking spaces. The project would involve a new roundabout on the main road.

brianthebard

Essexboy wrote: »

This is all about Sligo TOWN! What about the rest of the county eg North Sligo? We have no broadband (except for line of sight wireless), the sewerage systems are overloaded but the builders are allowed to put up more houses. It is easier to shop in Ballyshannon or even Bundoran than go into Sligo.
We need better access to Enniskillen with its lower prices; then we can vote with our feet and shop there.

What about South Sligo? We've no broadband either!! j/k but you are right the town is a joke in a lot of ways. I'm hoping that there will be a supermarket or shopping centre or something in the new Collooney business park, that would shake things up a bit. But it'll probably just be another car dealership or two and offices....

devil-80

"Rally Ireland is round 15 of the 2007 FIA World Rally Championships and will take place from 15th-18th November 2007. The event will open with a Super Special Stage in Stormont, Northern Ireland’s Parliament Buildings, on Thursday evening. The event route includes eight counties, both north and south of Ireland, and the rally will conclude on Sunday with a Special Stage at Mullaghmore, County Sligo."
More info at http://www.rallyireland.org/

Gillie

Residents: Please keep the racecourse green

PEOPLE in the Cleveragh and Tonaphubble areas in the vicinity of Sligo Racecourse are calling for the site to remain as a greenfield recreation area if the racecourse is moved.

Although nothing definite has happened yet, there have been moves to relocate the racecourse to a new site at Cloonamahon.


In the event of this happening, residents in the Cleveragh area do not want to see the vacant site used for houses or industrial development. There has also been speculation about a road being constructed through it to serve the proposed new Eastern bridge.


Last week the Cleveragh Residents Association held a meeting in the Cranmore centre, which was attended by about 50-60 people.


Former borough councillor Tommy Cummins, who is a member of the association, said that the reason for the meeting was that there are no proposals for what will happen to the area if the race -course is moved from there.



“People want to guard against what developments may or may not take place there. What people are concerned about is that any development of any nature, be it housing or industrial, will take place on the site.”


He said that local people wanted to ensure that the racecourse site would remain as a recreational and amenity area.


“People in the area do not want any kind of development on it. They are sufficient areas for industrial development with the Finisklin and Cleveragh industrial estates.”


Under the current development plan the area is zoned for sport and recreation and this zoning can only be changed by the borough council.


Meanwhile, Councillor Tony McLaughlin believes that as the North Ward has benefited from funding for recreation for the Mitchell Curley Park, the East Ward should also get funding for similar facilities at the racecourse site in Cleveragh.




This is a wonderful oppertunity to create a wonderful recreational area in Sligo! I hope that some developer doesn't fuk this up! We don't need another housing estate in the middle of a load of housing estates! We need more parks in Sligo!


Thoughts?

Rozbeef

been saying this for ages with some friends, sligo is really lacking a nice park in the centre of town. something by the garavogue would be great.

also on another note how ****ing disgusting is the river at the moment. people really have no respect..

Gillie

Rozbeef wrote: »

been saying this for ages with some friends, sligo is really lacking a nice park in the centre of town. something by the garavogue would be great.

also on another note how ****ing disgusting is the river at the moment. people really have no respect..

There are doing a big job over by Doorly Park which will incorporate the Garavogue River.

As for the river there really is nothing you can do about a$$holes who litter it!:mad:

Rozbeef

sorry for my ignorance but where's doorly park? don't know sligo that well yet!

shame about the river really, doesn't look attractive at all.

Gillie

I presume you know where toffs nightclub is:D
Well head down past that all the way along the riverbank towards the sports complex and you'll pass doorly park.

They are currently building a green area there.

But there is potential for a magnificent green area at the racecourse if someone has the forsight to do it!

magnumlady

Doorly park is a lovely area, I go down there quite often and take photos, I'll be glad when they've finished whatever they are doing though.

brianthebard

Rozbeef wrote: »

been saying this for ages with some friends, sligo is really lacking a nice park in the centre of town. something by the garavogue would be great.

also on another note how ****ing disgusting is the river at the moment. people really have no respect..

There's a park beside the cathedral.

Gillie

brianthebard wrote: »

There's a park beside the cathedral.

Yeah but it's generally not great and full of secondary school students.

Used to be the main venue for the summerhill brawls!:eek:

Gillie

From the Weekender:

Way cleared for new Dunnes on Adelaide St. site
By John Bromley

THE way has been cleared for Dunnes Stores to go ahead with a new two and three storey shop on their Adelaide Street site, along with a multi-storey car park. And plans for yet another development in the Wine Street car park have also been revealed.

Dunnes have now cleared all planning obstacles with the withdrawal last week of two appeals to An Bord Pleanala against the granting of planning permission for the project by Sligo Borough Council.

The appeals had been lodged by McCanny and Company, solicitors of Wine Street and Patrick O’Connor, who has a dental surgery on Wine Street.

Neither of them were against the Dunnes development in principle but both had expressed concerns about its impact on their properties and other adjacent properties.

With the withdrawal of the objections Dunnes can now go ahead with their plan to demolish their existing store and to build a much larger store on the site.

There will also be a five-level car park, capable of taking 456 cars. Meanwhile, Treasury Holdings’ subsidiary Callside Developments has given notice that it is to seek planning permission for a new development in the Wine Street car park.

Callside are presently awaiting a decision by the Borough Council on an application for a multi-storey shops, apartments and car park complex in the centre of the car park.

Their new planning application is for a development alongside that on the northern (Wine Street) side of the car park. It will involve the demolition of the present two-storey row of premises stretching from the House of Value to Connolly Fruit and Veg.

In its place they plan a five-storey building, with 10 two-storey retail units and offices and apartments on the other three floors. There will be seven 2-bedroom apartments and seven 3-bedroom two-storey duplexs.




Finally mention of a car park!!!

AlmightyCushion

What ever about anything else that car park is greatly needed. Those 450 spaces will make a big difference.

Gillie

Certainly will.

Just glad that there is finally some movement on the "Centre Block Plan".

Now the crazyness that will ensue once Wine Street Car Park is being redeveloped is another story...

nanook

now its a sticky. have fun guys, if it starts to dwindle let me know and we can let float away .

Gillie

It'll never dwindle!
Not on my watch!

TequilaMockingBird

I see the ESB building is up for sale again. Did we hear confirmation that Bank of Scotland are going into Sligo Supply Centre yet? I was sure they had bought the ESB plot, as they had bought most of them around the country. The plot thickens...

Lets start it now: ARGOS FOR ESB, ARGOS FOR ESB....:)

magnumlady

sueme wrote: »

I see the ESB building is up for sale again. Did we hear confirmation that Bank of Scotland are going into Sligo Supply Centre yet? I was sure they had bought the ESB plot, as they had bought most of them around the country. The plot thickens...

Lets start it now: ARGOS FOR ESB, ARGOS FOR ESB....:)

Did you not see me today marching up and down with me placard (however you spell it)

TequilaMockingBird

Aaahhh...

So it was you I saw being bundled off by all the local retailers!!

magnumlady

I'm typing this from a cell !:D Better go back on topic now.
Has anyone seen the new level of shops in the Quayside?