Ferbane Town Team to host information gathering workshop

The Ferbane Town Team, which was set up to develop a comprehensive plan for the west Offaly town over the next ten to twenty years, is set to host its first information gathering workshop nexty week.

The workshop, which is being hosted in conjunction with the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), is a public event and will take place in Gallen Community School in Ferbane on Tuesday, October 22 next from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Participants attending the workshop will discuss and examine:

• the town’s strengths and weaknesses

• opportunities for development and

• community suggestions for making Ferbane a more attractive town to live, work and visit.

Next week's workshop will be followed up by a second workshop towards the end of November, where the information gathered will be presented back to the local community for consideration .

The newly-formed Ferbane Town Team was establised following a drop-in clinic in July where a call was issued for volunteers from various local groups and organisations to get involved in the future planning of Ferbane.

The introductory meeting of the new group was held earlier this month, and among those in attendance were representatives from An Síolán, Ferbane Tidy Towns, and sectors such as education, business, sports, youth, and residential areas.

The team is supported by the Town Regeneration Officer from Offaly County Council, in partnership with Offaly Local Development Company, Laois Offaly Educational Training Board, and An Garda Síochána.

Earlier this year, €30,000 was awarded to Ferbane by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town Centre First Policy, with the funds to be used to support the Town Team and to develop the Town Centre First Plan for Ferbane.

Olwen Cummins, Town Regeneration Officer with Offaly County Council said the role of the town team is to develop “a comprehensive plan outlining the objectives they aim to achieve

for the town over the next 10 to 20 years.” She pointed out that, while the role of the town team will take “a lot of work and dedication” they will have a unique position in the community to become ‘local experts’ and to take a lead on the development of projects that can make positive, long-term changes for Ferbane. “Nobody knows what the community needs more than the people who live and work in the town” she added.

The Town Centre First policy aims to create vibrant, attractive town centres that serve as

hubs for living, working, and visiting, as well as social, cultural, and recreational activities.

In the coming months, Ferbane Town Team will collaborate with the Town Regeneration Officer and Offaly County Council to formulate a plan that will guide the regeneration of Ferbane, build

on the positive initiatives taking place and set a new vision for the town’s future by

identifying key projects for development.

More information regarding the Town Centre First policy can be found on offaly.ie or by clicking the following link https://www.offaly.ie/town-centre-first-policy/