Clane TownHealth Check& Initial Public Realm Plans

December 2018

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Attractive setting, Millicent road, Clane

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Contents

1.0 Executive Summary

1.1 Introduction: Background and Purpose of the Health Check

2.0 Context2.1 Objectives2.2 Study Area

3.0 Health Check Data Collection3.1 Land Use Survey3.2 Pedestrian Count Survey3.3 Ped-Shed 3.4 Car Parking Survey3.5 Car Parking Occupancy3.6 Public Realm Audit

4.0 Business Owner Survey4.1 Shopper Survey

5.0 Community Participation Methodology5.1 Primary Participation Workshop5.2 Secondary Participation Workshop 6.0 Project Findings, Goals and Objectives6.1 Recommendations6.2 Map of project locations6.3 Illustrated projects

7.0 Appendix 1: Goal sub Classification used

Insert Photo of Clane

Attractive built environment, St Patrick’s Church.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.0 Executive Summary

Ireland’s Towns and Villages are the centre of the social and civic life of much wider communities. Town centres with a vibrant commercial offering, diverse services and attractive public realm sus-tain economic growth, attract more people to the region, and promote a sense of well-being and identity. It is vital for town centres to be successful and viable to provide for their populations as well as to encourage visitors.

The results of the 2018 Clane Town Centre Health Check show a town under pressure from several factors. Notably high levels of traffic, poor pedes-trian connectivity, relatively high vacancy rates, and limited nighttime activity. Despite this the Town Centre continues to provide a good range of comparison and convenience retailing, with many local/family owned premises. The traditional town centre creates a pleasing built environment com-plimenting the attractive natural setting. However an investment in the public realm of Clane Town Centre to achieve traffic calming while delivering an expanded public realm is central to maintaining and enhancing the vitality of Clane.

1.1 Introduction: Background and Purpose of the Health Check

Recent economic conditions have impacted the fab-ric of our communities with an increase in vacant lands and dereliction. To sustain these communities targeted action is required to support economic recovery and civic life.

Government initiatives including the National Plan-

ning Framework (NPF - 2018) and the Framework for Town Centre Renewal (2017) have recognized this and seek to concentrate future growth in areas where services can be provided and note that ”Acti-vating these strategic areas and achieving effective density and consolidation, rather than more sprawl of urban development, is a top priority”. P14 NPF

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, (DAHRRGA) launched the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in August 2016, in response to research indicating that rural towns and villages were increasingly challenged by recent economic conditions. The Town and Village Renew-al Scheme is designed to support locally led and targeted actions to revitalize towns and villages in partnership with Local Authorities.

The purpose of the Health Check as described in the

Framework for Town Centre Renewal (Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation - 2017) is to pro-vide a “stock-take” of the current economic, social, environmental and physical situation relating to the Town or Village in order to assess the vitality and viability of town centre.

Research data (outlined in the next chapter) was undertaken in collaboration with Kildare County Council, local business owners and members of the community between May and August 2018. This is detailed further in Chapters 2 – 6 of this report.

The data and findings resulting from the surveys together with desktop research and community workshops are the subject of this report, compiled by Cathal O’Meara Landscape Architects.

Vibrant street life: Fermoy, Co Cork.

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2.0 CONTEXT

2.0 Context

The earliest trace of a settlement in Clane dates to a pre-Norman Abbey founded in the 6th Century. However this importance declined during medieval times. Ordinance Survey mapping for the mid 19th Century records Clane as having a tight concentra-tion of buildings flanking the main street. This struc-ture remained until the mid 20th Century when its population started to grow from a base of approxi-mately 500 persons. Suburban type expansion start-ed to emerge and fragmented this linear structure with peripheral development on the Prosperous, Ballingappa and Kilcock Roads, and between the Celbridge Road and the River Liffey.

This development has been largely housing led. However peripheral retail, community/education and business/industrial development has also occurred on the Abbeylands site to the south, on the Prosperous Road to the west and on the Kilcock Road to the north. Characteristics of these devel-opments are poor permeability between devel-opments and the town core and a lack of cycling infrastructure with a high demand for car parking along the main street and in cases narrow footpaths within the town core.

The limited permeability between developments and lack of cycling infrastructure has contributed to the dominance of cars as the primary transport choice for many. The reliance on private vehicles for local journeys is evident at peak times during school hours with a large increase in traffic conges-tion at these locations. The proximity of Clane to both the M4 and M7 means that the town has the added burden of large volumes of vehicles transit-

ing through the town on the Main Street.

This dominance of private vehicles has influenced the appearance of the town core with much of the public realm characterised by car parking. This provision restricts activity spilling out into the street from the bars and restaurants, representing a lost opportunity for business and for Clane as a whole.

The current population of 7,280 (Census 2016) has increased from 6,702 in 2011. This marks a growth of 8.6% in a five-year period and exceeds the national average growth of 3.8%. The deprivation index for Clane is indicated at slightly higher than the national average. This however conflicts with the unemployment rate for Clane – which at 10.1% is considerably lower than the national average of 12.9%. (Note Census 2016 unemployment figures differ from Quarterly National Household Survey figures).

Within the context of the Kildare County Devel-opment Plan 2017-2023 Clane is designated as a small town. This designation aims to concentrate development in Clane “as a local centre for services with levels of growth to cater for local need at an appropriate scale and to support local enterprise”. (P5, Clane Local Area Plan 2017 – 2023).

2.1 ObjectivesWhile some Irish towns have identified a successful community and commercial model – many have not. The objective of this Health Check is to pro-vide a “stock-take” of the current economic, social, environmental and physical situation relating to Clane in order to assess the vitality and viability of

town centre. The assessment analysis is based on Quantitative and Qualitative factors including• Accessibility to people living in the area • General amenity appearance • Land Use and Dereliction/Vacancy survey• Pedestrian/Footfall Counts• Pedestrian Shed – Walkable Catchment Survey• Car Parking Survey• Car Parking Occupancy• Public Realm Audit – including accessibility• SWOT Analysis• Business & Shopper surveys• Public participatory design workshops This process involved consultation and input from various sources including the community, visitors and traders.

Following assessment of specific criteria, recom-mendations/ actions are outlined based on factual findings and community needs/inputs. It is intend-ed that this assessment can be repeated after a period of 6 years (consistent with the Local Area Plan time-frame) and the quantitative and qualita-tive factors can be compared to determine whether Clane town is improving or dis-improving over that time period.

2.2 Study AreaThe Town Centre Study Area is identified in the Zon-ing Map of the Clane Local Area Plan 2017 – 2023. It is recognised however that within the context of town centre wider issues are also of relevance to the function of the town centre, which may not be located within its area. Some of these wider issues were identified and discussed as part of this plan.

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Master Text2.2 STUDY AREA

Clane Town Centre Study Areaas identified in the LAP zoning Map.

Clane Town Centre as identified in Clane Local Area Plan (2017-2023) is indicated and highlighted in the plan opposite. This is the historic town centre containing the Abbey Community Centre - One of Ireland’s oldest monasteries, The Friary and Abbey cemetery, The Church of St Patrick and St Brigit and the Main Street.

This tight knit collection of buildings, the main street and the public spaces between them form an integral part of the fabric of Clane and the basis for interventions proposed as part of this plan

NNot to scale

Extent of Study Area

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3.0 HEALTH CHECK DATA COLLECTION

3.0 Health Check Data Collection

The Town Centre Health Check identified specific quantitative and qualitative measures that could be recorded as a base against which future Health Checks could be compared. These measures were identified as a means of determining the Vitality and Viability of the Town Centre.

The following indicators were included as part of this survey.

3.1 Land Use and Dereliction/Vacancy survey

3.2 Pedestrian/Footfall Counts

3.3 Pedestrian Shed – Walkable Catchment Survey

3.4 Car Parking Surveys

3.5 Public Realm Audit – including accessibility, safety and way-finding

3.6 SWOT Analysis

 

The Abbey, Clane

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3.1 LANDUSE AND DERELICTION/VACANCY SURVEY

Ground Level Land Use

Upper Level Land Use

Chart does not include residen-tial use

Extent of Study Area

16%17%

15%

14% 5% 7%

13%

The GOAD land use classification used is included in Appendix 1

12%1%

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3.2 PEDESTRIAN/FOOTFALL COUNTS

Pedestrian Count Locations

2 Prosperous Road Total 546

3 R407 Playground Total 474

The assessment of pedestrian activity enables understanding of the patterns of use and levels of activity within the town centre. This data examines a towns agility and can help aid future planning and investment in town centres as well as provid-ing a baseline for future comparative studies.

Pedestrian footfall Counts for Clane were undertak-en on Tuesday 22-05-2018 at 3 points within the town: Main street, Prosperous Road and on the R407 beside the Playground. 3 hour long counts were conducted at each point. The weather was sunny, dry and warm for the time of year1 Main Street

Total 912

Total Overall Pedestrians Count: 1932

Main Street was the busiest area with 47% of the footfall, followed by Prosperous Road with 28% and R407 Playground with 25%.

End of school hours 15.00-16.00 had the high-est footfall count

A total of 73 Cyclists were recorded within the town core during the count times

13:00-14:00: Main Street: 269 Prosperous Rd: 217 R407 Playground: 104 Total Pedestrians: 590

15:00-16:00: Main Street: 380 Prosperous Rd: 235 R407 Playground: 148 Total Pedestrians: 763

17:00-18:00: Main Street: 263 Prosperous Rd: 94 R407 Playground: 222 Total Pedestrians: 379

NNot to scale

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3.3 TOWN PEDESTRIAN SHED/WALKABLE CATCHMENT SURVEY

Ped shed is short for pedestrian shed also common-ly known as a walkable catchment area, these form the basic building blocks of walkable neighbor-hoods. The ped shed encompasses the area which is within easy walking distance of the town centre, (covered by a 5-minute walk) and is regarded as the distance people will walk to pick up shopping basics (about 0.25 miles or 400 meters). - Chapter 15 Kildare County Development Plan 2017-2023. A theoretical 400M radius circle is drawn to repre-sent the potential walking range from the centre, but in practice the true ped shed has an irregular shape because it covers the actual distance walked which is effected by roads, walls and built struc-tures, this is called the ped shed net.

400M Aerial Ped Shed

Ped Shed Net

Existing Walking Routes

Approximate existing walking distances from ex-emplar housing areas:

Liffey Lawns: 590MChurchfield: 615MSt.Bridgets Terrace: 635MThe Cloisters: 775MOtomy Lawns: 810MCollegewood Park: 1140MThe Avenue: 1150MAlexandra Manor: 1170MAbbeylands Park: 1400MArd Na Gappa: 1750M

Over 60% of Clanes housing falls outside the 400M aerial Ped Shed area.

Ped-Shed Plan

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Liffey Lawns

590M

Otomy Lawns

810M

Churchfield

615M

St.Bridgets Terrace

635MNNot to scale

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3.4 CAR PARKING SURVEYS

17.7% of the Town Core is taken up by Car Parking.

Clane Town Core has 27,991 M2 of land devoted to Car Parking.

Car Parking Usage Plan

Car Parking Land Use

A count of the car parking spaces with the town core was carried out on two separate days, Wednesday 11-04-2018 &Tuesday 22-05-2018 between 15.00 and 16.00 - both days.

Total car parking spaces: 921 Occupancy rate: 46% Occupied 54% Unoccupied

NNot to scale

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3.5 PUBLIC REALM AUDIT

Top left: Potential for creating civic space - town square, above narrow footpaths, left colourful shopfronts, Bottom - Far left, attractive natural setting below missing crossing points

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3.6 SWOT ANALYSIS

3.7 SWOT Analysis of Clane Town

Strengths• Traditional Town Centre with strong historical

feel • Diverse retail offering of independent traders• Sufficient car parking within town core• Attractive setting of stream and playground at

Fair Green• Strong heritage assets (River Liffey, Abbey,

Church of St Patrick & St Bridgit)

Weaknesses• Traffic congestion• Limited evidence of centre-first development

policy• 14% vacancy of buildings within town core• Limited provision for teenagers within town• Limited evening/night-time and Sunday trade• Poor permeability between town core and

adjacent residential developments• Lack of public space/town square • Lack of consistency in shop-fronts• Narrow footpaths in places and accessibility

issues for mobility impaired• Main street dominated by car parking• Loss of residential function of traditional town

centre with limited evidence of people living above shops etc

• Absence of town centre atmosphere e.g., busk-ers, Town Centre events

• Extensive overground wires contributing to a neglected public realm

Opportunities• Significant potential to refocus the town centre

on the strong heritage assets present, by create

public space at the threshold of historical build-ings

• Reorganise car parking and redistribute car-riageway widths to allow for an increase in foot-paths and public space

• Strengthen heritage assets of the town - includ-ing the River Liffey, Abbey, Church of St Patrick & St Bridgit

• Create threshold/entrance to the town that embraces the identity of the town

• Increase density within town core by devel-oping the existing town centre back-lands and associated lanes

• Increase permeability between town core and adjoining residential developments when the back-land sites come for development

• Link road bypass from Dublin Road (R403) to Kilcock Road (R407)

• Increase uptake of existing Kildare Shop-front and Town Centre improvement scheme

• Create looped walk on lands adjacent to River Liffey

• Increase Sunday and evening trade• Significant funding potential exists with the Ru-

ral Regeneration and Development Fund for the investigation and preparation of projects.

Threats• Continuous increase in traffic volumes and fur-

ther degradation of the public realm• Peripheral residential development with no

provision for pedestrian/cyclist permeability• Peripheral commercial development which

increases vacancy and dereliction within town core

• Analysis, Clane Town Centre

• Loss of income to town centre due to Online sales

• Continued loss of vitality in town centre due to town centre depopulation

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4.0 BUSINESS OWNER OPINION

Good Neutral Poor

Café/Restaurant ChoiceCafé/Restaurant QualityStandard of service in shopsParks/Green SpacesEase of getting around on footValue for moneyFeeling of safety during the dayVariety of goods availableAttractiveness of Town CentreFootpath CleanlinessGeneral feeling of vibrancyAvailability of ParkingTraffic FlowSeating/Areas to congregate Other Attractions Footpath Quality Feeling of safety at evening/nightCost of ParkingCycling infrastructureRange of Events

A survey invited respondents to rate 20 key aspects of the town centre. The most positive ratings were the standard of service in the shops, ease of getting around and feeling of safety. The most negative aspect were the lack of seating/areas to congregate., lack of cycling infrastructure, the range of events and the attractiveness of the town centre.

What do you consider the main strengths of Clane?

Friendly atmosphere 32%Traditional character-town 26%Good range of shops 26%Compact nature of town 16%

Do you expect trading pros-pects over the next to year to :

Improve 38%Worsen 12%Not to change 50%

What improvements would you like to make to Clane Town Centre?Better security/increased Garda presence 34%Increased vibrancy/events 28%Parking 22%Improve footpaths/pedestrian improvements 11%Fill vacant units/more shops 5%

Do you sell online?Yes 38%No 62%

Do you have a business website?Yes 62%No 38%

88% 12% 75% 25%100%72% 28%63% 25% 12%63% 37%88% 12%63% 27% 50% 50%24% 38% 38%38% 62%50% 50%24% 38% 38%50% 50% 63% 37%57% 14% 29%57% 29% 14%75% 25%25% 25% 50%12% 38% 50%

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4.1 SHOPPER OPINION

Café/Restaurant ChoiceCafé/Restaurant QualityStandard of service in shopsParks/Green SpacesEase of getting around on footValue for moneyFeeling of safety during the dayVariety of goods availableAttractiveness of Town CentreFootpath CleanlinessGeneral feeling of vibrancyAvailability of ParkingTraffic FlowSeating/Areas to congregate Other Attractions Footpath Quality Feeling of safety at evening/nightCost of ParkingCycling infrastructureRange of Events

A survey invited respondents to rate 20 key aspects of the town centre. The most positive rating was the standard of service in shops and the feeling of safety. However the most negative ratings were given to seating/areas to congregate and the traffic flow. A total of 116 shopper surveys were received

Why do you shop in Clane Out of habit /convienence 50%Easy to get around 23%Selection/quality of shops 21% Other 6%

What do you consider the main strengths of Clane?

Friendly atmosphere 42%Good range of shops 25%Traditional character-town 18%Compact nature of town 14%Other 1%

What improvements would you like to make to Clane Town Centre?Better security/increased Garda presence 27%Parking 27%Fill vacant units/more shops 27%Increased vibrancy/events 11%Improve footpaths/pedestrian improvements 8%

How often do you shop in ClaneDaily 45%2-3 times a week 40%Weekly 9%2-3 times a month 3%Monthly 3%

What event would you most like to see in ClaneChildrens/family events 29%Food events/Markets 26%Cultural/Art/Theatre 19%Music 16%Sports 10%

58% 33% 9%62% 29% 9%90% 9% 1%46% 39% 15%66% 29% 5%53% 46% 1%86% 13% 1%66% 31% 3%63% 32% 5%52% 36% 12%57% 36% 7%40% 26% 34%21% 39% 40%19% 35% 46%25% 40% 35%50% 38% 12%48% 40% 12%72% 25% 3%38% 38% 24%32% 44% 24%

Good Neutral Poor

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5.0 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

5.0 Community Participation Methodology

An initial information meeting was held in the Westgrove Hotel, Clane to launch the Health Check Process. This meeting was on Wednesday, April 11th at 7pm. The purpose of this meeting was to inform members of the public and the Public Participation Network (PPN) about Kildare County Council’s “Town/Village Health Checks” and how communities can participate in the process. A nar-rated short animation was shown to set the scene for the process. This animation entitled “Town” by Orla Murphy recounts the history of Irish Towns and imagines how they could be recreated to accommo-date residential uses while retaining a multi-func-tional core centered around community uses.

Public participation was strongly encouraged in the Health Check Process by making evident all research at each stage of the process. This was then used as the basis for generating ideas (first workshop) and voting on the ideas as a community (second work-shop). This participatory approach differs signifi-cantly from consultation as a means of generating public involvement in the process.

5.1 Workshop 1 The first participatory public workshop took place on the 2nd of May 2018, in Clane Parish Hall. Invites were sent in advance to members of the PPN and advertisements were published in the Leinster Leader and Liffey Champion - over 40 members of the public and local community groups attended. Attendees were divided into small groups and asked to discuss specific topics concerning their town centre. These topics included:

• Streetscape and Open Space• Business improvements in Town Centre• Accessibility • Image of the Town

The format of the event ensured that attendees contributed to all topics with one member of the group asked to write a synopsis of their discussion. These discussions were then recounted to the wid-er group. Specific projects were identified through-out the discussions, which would form the basis for the second public workshop.

Photographs from first public workshop

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5.1 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

5.2 Workshop 2

Voting methodologyOn May 30th a second public workshop was held in Clane Parish hall – in excess of 50 members of the public attended. The purpose of this event was to prioritize the ideas discussed at the first public workshop. This was undertaken by a voting mecha-nism independent of individual’s favoured projects, where each attendee was given the same quantity of red dots and asked to distribute the dots (voting credits) on the projects they would most like to see realised. All dots could be placed on an individual project or distributed as appropriate.

Following the prioritizing of the ideas five distinct projects emerged. These were1) Main Street and The Town Square – Score 372) Access and Pedestrian Crossings – Score 353) Gateways and Identity – Score 32 4) Prosperous Road - Score 285) Fair Green – Score 28

Please note: Following group discussions it was agreed to combine Main street (including Town Square) with Fair Green as it was felt that the streetscape project should terminate at the Fair Green

Other high scoring ideas that emerged wereLink Road – Score 28Youth Space – core 27

The findings appear to correlate well with the desktop research and primary research undertaken as part of this study. Where exceptions or contra- Above Photograph from second public workshop

and below priority projects table

Idea Score Priority

1MainStreet(IncTownSquareandFairGreen)

65 Medium

2

AccessauditandImprovingpedestrianCrossings

35 Short

3Town/gatewaysandIdentity

32 Short

4LinkRoad(DublinRoadtoKilcockRoad)

28 High

5 ProsperousRd 28 Medium6 YouthSpace 27 Short-Med7 Loopedwalk 25 Med-Long

8Improvementstopermeability

25 Short

9ShopFrontMentoringScheme

24 Short

10AssitedLiving/CommunityCentre

19 Long

dictions exist these have been highlighted in the findings and recommendations

Mapping at various scales, examples of precedent projects and round table discussions provided the basis for further detailed discussions on each of these ideas. The following objectives and master plan evolved from this process.

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6.0 PROJECT FINDINGS, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

6.0 Project Findings, Goals and Objectives

Project 1 Main Street – Including Town Square and Fair Green.

Findings This project would entail a redistribution of the space allocated to the vehicular carriageway and would be extend from the junction with the R407 on the north to the junction with Fair Green on the South.

Goals and objectives• Investigate realignment of area to improve footpaths and crossing points, introduction of raised tables to calm traffic at specific points in the street-scape – Consistent with Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets Guidance.• Introduction of a central raised table creat-ing a civic shared space with unique paving pattern, linking the church with the street and calming traffic• Introduction of feature street trees to high-light “Central Plaza” and reinforce pedestrian scale• Reinforce the presence of the Abbey by introducing unique paving to the streetscape at this location • Remove on street signage and street clutter including overground wires where present• Rationalize/realignment of on street park-ing.• Require all street works to adhere to a de-sign code/ palette of materials• Improve the provision of Bus stopsConsistent with objectives R03.1 and H04.1 of Clane LAP (2017-2023)

Project 2 Accessibility Audit and improving pedestrian cross-ings

FindingsThis project would be undertaken in 2 phases. The first phase would entail an audit of the network of footpaths and crossing points to determine defi-ciencies with the network. Phase 2 would correct these deficiencies.

Goals and objectives• Specific points within the network of roads and streets were noted as posing difficulties to members of the public. However this list is not an exhaustive list of the pedestrian/accessibility issues within the town. Several points noted for improved crossings are highlighted in the attached Map.

Project 3Town Gateways and Identity

FindingsDesire to improve the identity of Clane through the development of specific features as part of Gateway treatments to the town.

Goals and objectives• Gateway treatment to be located on the 3 principal approach roads, - Dublin Road (R403 East), Prosperous Road (R403 West) and the R407 South. • Treatment would introduce traffic calming, and definition of the 50km Zone. See image at-tached. This approach is consistent with the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, 2013Consistent with objective H04.1 of Clane LAP (2017-

2023)Project 4Link Road (Dublin Road - Kilcock Road)

FindingsSignificant traffic exists within Clane town centre. This traffic presents a difficulty to pedestrians nav-igating the public realm and decreases the attrac-tiveness of the town centre.

Goals and objectives• Link Road (Dublin Road - Kilcock Road)Creation of a link road from Dublin Road to Kilcock Road in order to alleviate congestion within the town centre.Consistent with objective MT01.3 of Clane LAP (2017-2023)

Project 5 Prosperous Road Tree planting/upgrade

FindingsProsperous road has large volumes of students go-ing to/from school. Currently there is no pedestrian crossing near the bus stop. A pedestrian crossing combined with tree planting would balance the need for traffic calming with an entrance enhance-ment to the town.

Goals and objectives• Prosperous Road approachIntroduction of safe pedestrian crossing adjacent to Yew Tree Apartments. • Introduction of large tree planting within footpaths or on build outs into the parking bay to Prosperous road to create tree lined Boulevard on approach to town

1 Main Street: including shared surface nodes at St. Patrick’s Church and Fair Green. High quality paving to footpaths, street furniture and trees and the rationalization of footpaths, parking and crossings.

Accessibility Audit: Carried out by a qualified professional in order to access existing pedes-trian and disabled user black spots. Plans to be drawn and implemented to remedy existing problems with crossings etc.

Town Gateways and Identity: Creation of be-spoke signage features situated at the towns gateways along major routes. (Shown at Indica-tive Location)

Link Road: To join the Dublin Road with the Kilcock Road in order to alleviate congestion within the town centre.

Prosperous Road: Widen footpaths, create new crossings and explore the possibility of a desig-nated cycle path to aid pedestrians and cyclists along this main school route.

Youth Space: A designated building for teen-agers to use as an after school club (Shown at Indicative Location)

Looped Walk: Develop a walkway linking Main Street to the Alexandra Bridge and along the River Liffey looping back into town along the R403

Improvements to permeabilityInvestigate the possibility of improving pedestri-an access to main street

Shop Front Mentoring Scheme: Targeting and mentoring to be provided by Kildare County Council to aid the uptake of existing grants for shop front renewal

Assisted living Centre (location undefined)

2

5

3

6

7

8

1

2

2

2

5

34

6

7

To Link Road

7

2

13

3

4

9

8

8

8

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6.1 MAP OF PROJECT LOCATIONS

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Full Map of all projects discussedIncluding priority projects

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Master Text6.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Recommendations

Clane town presents a traditional town centre with buildings tightly concentrated along the main street. The town contains many attractive elements and retains a busy feel.

However several of the findings from the work-shops undertaken in Clane are concerned with the limited space on the main street for pedestrians, pedestrian access issues (projects 2 and 8) through traffic (project 4) and the condition of town centre streets (projects 1 and 5). Much of the town centre space is currently devoted to car parking.

This study does not propose to provide a radical overhaul to this distribution of space between cars and pedestrians but instead seeks for a balanced approach to the town centre that enables tradition-al town activities, (public events, markets etc) while recognising the need to provide appropriate car parking. A significant investment in the public realm of Clane is considered to be a central component of this a study and featured consistently highly in surveys undertaken as part of the research phase of this project with both shoppers and business managers rating the parks and green spaces cate-gory and the seating/areas to congregate category poorly.

Several of the findings from the workshops under-taken in Clane are concerned with the image and presentation of the town. This is not in anyway to be construed as undervaluing their importance. In a wider context the reinforcement of Clane’s identity through careful branding and presentation would help strengthen the identity of the town.

These concerns were evident in the desire to see development of the Town Gateways (Project 3) and shop front mentoring programme (consistent high quality facades- project 8) A final area of concern to residents and an item that was not observed during the research phase of this project was the need to provision facilities for teenagers (Youth space - Project 6) and for the elderly with an Assisted living Community Centre (Project 10).

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Master TextPROJECT 1: MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS

Raised table creating a civic shared space with unique paving pattern, linking the church with the street and calming traffic.

Feature street trees to highlight central ‘plaza’ andadd pedestrian scale.

Footpaths widened with street tree planting and parallel parking where space allows.

Underground all wires and service cables etc

Investigate realignment of area to improve footpaths and crossing points, introduction of a raised table to calm traffic.

Footpaths widened with street tree planting and alternate side 90 degree parking allowing spill outs for seating to the front of businesses.

Investigate realignment of area to improve footpaths and crossing points, introduction of a raised table to calm traffic.

On street parking and vehicular access rationalized to create a shared space with central raised lawn.

Side street entrances surfaced as pavement with dropped kerbs to allow vehicular access.

Traffic calming chicane with tree planting and new crossing from Aldi to the Playground.

Main Street UpgradeN

Not to scale

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Master TextPROJECT 1: MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENTS AT ST PATRICK’S CHURCH

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Master TextPROJECT 2: PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AUDIT AND IMPROVING CROSSINGS

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Master TextPROJECT 5: PROSPEROUS ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

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Master TextAPPENDIX 1 GOAD SUB CLASSIFICATION USED

COM 1 Antiques shopsCOM 2 Art & Art dealersCOM 3 BooksellersCOM 4 Carpets and FlooringCOM 5 Charity ShopsCOM 6 Chemists & DrugstoresCOM 7 Children’s & Infants wearCOM 8 Crafts, Gifts, China & GlassCOM 9 Cycles & AccessoriesCOM 10 Department and Variety Stores COM 11 DIY & Home Improvement COM 12 Electrical & Other Durable GoodCOM 13 FloristsCOM 14 FootwearCOM 15 FurnitureCOM 16 Gardens & Equipment COM 17 Greeting CardsCOM 18 Hardware & Household Goods COM 19 Jewellery, Watches & Silver COM 20 Mixed Clothing COM 21 Ladies Wear & Accessories COM 22 Leather & Travel GoodsCOM 23 Men’s W ear & Accessories COM 24 Music & Musical Instruments COM 25 Stationers COM 26 Office SuppliesCOM 27 Other Comparison Goods COM 28 PhotographicCOM 29 Second Hand Goods & BooksCOM 30 Sports, Camping & Leisure Goods COM 31 Telephones & Accessories COM 32 Textiles & Soft Furnishings COM 33 Toys, Games & Hobbies COM 34 Vehicle & Motorcycle Sales COM 35 Vehicle Accessories COM 36 Opticians CNV 1 Bakers & Confectioners CNV 2 Butchers CNV 3 Convenience Store, Groceries & Frozen Food

CNV 4 Delicatessen CNV 5 Fishmonger CNV 6 Health Foods CNV 7 Markets CNV8 Off licenceCNV9 Shoe repairs etcCNV10 SupermarketsCNV11 Confectionery, Tobacconist, Newsagent RS1 Clothing & Fancy Dress HireRS2 Dry Cleaner & LaundretteRS3 Filling Stations & GaragesRS4 Health & Beauty RS5 Hairdressers/BarbersRS7 Other Retail OutletsRS8 Photo ProcessingRS9 Photo StudioRS10 Post OfficesRS11 Repair, Alterations & RestorationRS12 Travel AgentsRS13 Vehicle RentalRS14 Vehicle Repair & Services OR1 ShopsLS1 Bars, Wine Bars & Public House LS2 Bingo & AmusementLS3 CafesLS4 Casino & Betting OfficeLS5 Cinemas, Theatres & Concert Halls LS6 ClubsLS7 Disco, Dance & NightclubLS8 Fast Food & TakeawaysLS9 Hotels & Guest HousesLS10 RestaurantsLS11 Sports & Leisure Facilities FBS 1 Building SocietyFBS 2 Building Supplies & Services FBS 3 Business Goods & Services FBS4 Employment & Careers

FBS 5 Financial Services FBS 6 Legal ServicesFBS 7 Other Business Services FBS 8 Printing & Copying FBS 9 Property Services FBS 10 Retail Banks HMS 1 Chiropodist HMS 2 Dental Surgery HMS 3 Doctors Surgery HMS 4 Health CentreHMS 5 Nursing HomeHMS 6 OsteopathHMS 7 Other Health & Medical Service HMS 8 Rest homeHMS 9 Veterinary surgery PS1 Advice Centre PS2 Community Centre PS3 Council Offices PS4 Educational EstablishmentPS5 Emergency ServicesPS6 Information CentrePS7 KindergartenPS8 LibraryPS9 Museum & Art GalleryPS10 TA/Cadet CentrePS11 Tourist Information REL Place of WorshipVAC 1 Vacant Shop