A public realm enhancement scheme which helps support the vision for Strandhill in Sligo is set to undergo another public consultation.

Sligo County Council is leading the project after securing RRDF funding for the first stage of a new public realm scheme for the villages of Rosses Point and Strandhill.

The overarching vision for Strandhill is to support its growth in a sustainable and safe manner into the future with the quality of life for residents as a main priority. Any enhancement scheme should also readdress the balance between pedestrian and vehicular activity to improve safety and the overall visitor experience and should enhance the tourism potential and capacity of the village.

The online public consultation to date revealed that there was an appetite for a full pedestrianisation of the Shore Front and Shore Road subject to access all year round for those with designated disabled parking permits. However, maintaining access to such drivers at the same time as restricting access to the Shore Front either full time or on a seasonal basis is not easily achievable. 

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Based on the consultations to date, the Council is now presenting three options for the future of the Shore Front and Shore Road:

• no intervention

• full pedestrianisation of Shore Road and the Shore Front

• a compromise solution whereby limited parking is retained on the Shore Front for designated disabled permit holders and older persons (age friendly spaces). This retains year-long vehicular access down to the seafront and 20 designated disabled and age friendly car parking spaces while reimagining the remaining space as a true promenade with enhanced seating, landscaping, viewing shelters, opportunities for play and social interaction.

With reduced traffic on Shore Road, as a result of less car parking on the Shore Front, footpaths on Shore Road can be widened and the walk down to the sea front from the Council car park enhanced and made safer and more accessible for all. This option also sees the Council car park reconfigured to make up for spaces lost on the Shore Front. When compared to pre-Covid car parking numbers, this option sees a net increase in spaces in Strandhill.

Register on the Council's portal here and voice your opinion.

The closing date for submissions is 13 June 2022 at 5.30pm.