Former Texas Site Included In Plan For Kilbride Plaza
28th February 2013
Courtesy of Tullamore Tribune
A PLAN to rejuvenate Kilbride Plaza, incorporating the former Texas site, is included on Tullamore Town Council's 'Service Plan' for this year.
At a recent meeting of the Council the Framework Plan for 2013 was unveiled and refers to the former Texas town centre as an 'opportunity site''.
This site was purchased in 2007 by Navan businessman Eamon Duignan, who was given the green light to build a 250,000 sq. ft shopping centre which would stretch to include the old Tesco store. However, work never began on the venture and apart from the Simon Community who use the former Tesco at weekends and its use as a car park it has lain idle ever since.
Mr Duignan's assets are under the control of Nama and his €230-330m loan portfolio called Project Club is on the market. According to the online site namawinelake Nama may provide finance to prospective purchasers of the loan. But the site remains the property of Mr Eamon Duignan.
The planned shopping centre was to cover two floors and Pennys was set to become the anchor store.
The town council framework plan for the area includes Offaly Street, and will take into account recent developments including the newly opened Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre and Tullamore Community Arts Centre.
It remains to be seen how the Texas site will fit into the overall plan and how it will be developed in the future.
Other plans for the town include proposals to improve pedestrian linkages within Tullamore incorporating a pedestrian footway between O' Connor Square and Market Square and a similar pedestrian footway between Main Street and the Bridge Centre car park.
According to Town Clerk Martin Daly, 'the proposed pedestrian linkage between O' Connor Square and Market Square commences at the new Library in O' Connor Square and uses the old disused bridge to cross the Tullamore River and reconnects at Church Street. It is envisaged that this pedestrian pathway will strengthen the linkage between the two squares.'
In addition, it is proposed to develop plans to connect Main Street to the Bridge Centre car park by a footbridge. A possible location for the footbridge may include Millennium Square on Main Street.
The Town Council proposes to consult with the relevant property owners in the near future with a view to developing specific proposals.
A plan to enhance the economic life and vitality of the town centre will see the introduction of 'Wi-Fi' in the town centre and the development of an 'Artisan Food and Craft market in the middle of Tullamore.
A business incentive scheme for vacant town centre retail units is also contained in the framework plan.
However, all of the above plans hinge on key factors which may impact on Tullamore Town Council achieving its objectives for 2013.
These factors are generally outside the control of the Town Council including reduction in resources, unplanned resource intensive crisis such as flooding and the government reform programme-'Putting People First.'