YOUGHAL MARCH 1ST.qxd - Youghal News

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTS €1m FACELIFT PLAN FOR TOWN ENTRANCE
By Christy Parker
The unimpressive vista offered by the County Waterford entrance point
(Northern Gateway) to Youghal is set to be totally transformed following
an ambitious project initiated by Youghal Town Council. The February
town council meeting eagerly approved a plan to create an eye-catching
and functional vista that will induce west-bound traffic to detour into the
town rather than continuing onto the town's bypass.
The project, to be conducted in phases, will span five years and cost about
€1m. The council is to seek funding assistance from Cork and Waterford
county councils, while community groups such as Tidy Towns, could also
come aboard and seek grant aid for their input.
The 'master plan,' envisages 1.8 km of the R643 between the Rhincrew
and Greencloyne roundabouts being heavily planted with trees, flowers
and colourful shrubs, creating an attractive first impact leading to a treelined
avenue with parallel cycle and pedestrian paths alongside seating
areas. Hydro-seeding and hedging would be deployed to solidify the
effect throughout.
A large sculpture to signify the town's entrance, a recreation area on
adjoining land, along with lighting and other effects to highlight outstanding
features in the area is also proposed.
Currently, the area offers little more than uninspiring bog land, some
bland industrial complexes, a few closed factories, a landfill and recycling
centre with a few hundred hovering seagulls and a sludge treatment
plant heavily intent on expanding its operations. A bare hillside, stripped
off foliage during the bypass construction a decade ago, accentuates the
dourness.
Impressive
An impressive pedigree attaches to Monkstown-based Jermyn Egan
Landscape Consultants, whose wide diversity of clients include Aldi,
Doneraile Castle, COPE Foundation, toll roads and the Blue Haven Hotel,
Kinsale.
Presenting their prototype plan to February's meeting, Kevin Jermyn and
James Egan, concurred with town clerk Liam Ryan's assessment that the
route is immensely unattractive and neglected.
Mr Jermyn proposed hydro-seeding the bare hillside and sewing climber
plants on adjacent structures. (The sign welcoming east-bound drivers to
the Déise will also go, incidentally -and any blue and white flags will
surely be buried in a deep chambers 50 metres underground!) Lavender
plants should lend appeal to the roundabouts, while "an attractive stone
bridge that is quite visible as one approaches the Rhincrew roundabout,
could be highlighted with lighting," he advised. The old Youghal Brick
Factory structure would also be emphasised, while a large sculptor at the
approach would perhaps reflect both Youghal's rich history and its future
aspirations, in a maritime theme.
Attractions
The town clerk said "Youghal has many attractions, including its beaches,
harbour, heritage and fine restaurants, but they are being lost to people
on the N25 meeting this depressing entrance." He said the phased
nature of the scheme offered flexibility in that it could be dissected, with
individual areas treated independently and different groups involved at
various sections.
Mr. Ryan stressed that the project "has to be delivered" and that Youghal
Town Council had taken leadership in commissioning and paying for the
Master Plan. "It's up to the other local authorities to come on board with
us now and make a financial commitment on an annual basis," he urged.
While one would hope that he project would not eventually fall victim to
whatever forces have seen the once-eulogised Millennium Garden pond
installations fall into such ugly decline, Mr. Ryan's words carried determination
and optimism. He hoped that the initial phase could be sanctioned
and completed within a year or two, "so you get an immediate
impact for everyone."