Vision for Castlepollard future outlined in major new report

Plans to reshape the heart of Castlepollard were unveiled when Westmeath County Council town regeneration officer Jason McCormack presented a new Town Centre First Summary Report to local representatives. The report, the product of 18 months of close consultation with residents and business groups, sets out a multi-year vision focused on making the town centre more welcoming, accessible, and vibrant.

“We’ve been working intensively with the community and Town Team during this process,” said Mr McCormack. “Castlepollard has a beautiful, historic square and a distinctive character, which we want to place at the centre of its future development.”

Based on community feedback, the new plan places emphasis on moving “from vehicles to people”. Among the priorities are: improved pavements and accessibility, increased traffic calming, enhanced public amenities, and addressing the problem of vacant or derelict properties with a view to supporting local enterprise, boosting tourism, and protecting heritage assets.

Castlepollard’s largely intact architectural conservation area forms the centrepiece of the strategy, and the Market House and town park have already benefited from regeneration funding. “Around 70% of the square’s buildings are in good condition – which is a solid foundation to build on,” Mr McCormack said. “We’ll be looking for more funding to enhance the town’s appearance and ensure it feels welcoming for all.”

The development of the plan involved detailed community studies, walkability assessments, and public consultations. Priorities highlighted include the need to tackle traffic flow and parking, improve public transport connections, and provide more affordable and age-friendly spaces for community gatherings.

Among the “top five” projects are the rejuvenation of Castlepollard Town Square, conservation works at Killafree Church, new youth services, improved pedestrian routes connecting key heritage sites, and expanded early childhood facilities. There are also ambitions to create a network of permissive walking routes looping around the town and countryside, supported by heritage signage and digital self-guided tours.

Mr McCormack pointed to the town’s residential strength – 76% of its centre is residential, with a low vacancy rate of just 8% that is expected to drop further with the redevelopment of the Market House and conversion of a former bank into an educational service centre. The area currently offers about 70 visitor beds and aims to increase its tourism footprint through targeted investments and new walking and cycling links. “Castlepollard is surrounded by forests, abbeys, lakes, and castles, all within a ten-minute drive – so the potential is enormous,” he said.

Support for the plan is strong. Cllr Alfie Devine, chair of Castlepollard Town Team, praised the ambitious approach and the involvement of local volunteers. “There’s massive plans for Castlepollard,” he said, adding that neglected sites like Killafree Church and the Square could become real highlights with the right investment.

Cllr Niall Gaffney welcomed the careful consideration of accommodation and urged further efforts to expand overnight capacity for visitors. Cllr Denis Leonard encouraged a community-driven process and he and Cllr David Jones pressed for an education and training centre at St Peter’s to further boost opportunity in the area while Cllr Jones also highlighted the need to zone land for industrial uses, creating serviced sites to attract new businesses and jobs.

Cllr Aoife Davitt stressed the importance of parking and transport arrangements that work for locals availing of businesses and services, while Mr McCormack underlined the need to balance improved walkability with the continued importance of traffic to the local economy. “The traffic is quite important to the economy of the town,” he said, he indicated it needed to be managed differently.

Council official Annette Barr Jordan reassured the meeting that collaboration would avoid unnecessary competition among community groups. Director of services Deirdre Reilly offered congratulations to the regeneration team and wished them success as the report heads to the department for further support and funding.