Bundoran Draft Development plan eyes up areas of potential  

The potential of a one way traffic system in Bundoran in the future as well as a walkway that would join up the two existing walks in the popular resort were just two one of the ideas that were mooted as part of the Bundoran Draft Development plan discussions, which took place at the town’s Community Centre this week. 

Another area that needed to be addressed was the level of dereliction in parts of the town, especially the West End and another area of hot debate that planners were told was the need for a new Fire Station for the town and the fact that there appeared to be no provision for such a proposition or potential site, in the current draft development plan. 

The draft plan is part of the Donegal Draft Development Plan 2024-2030 that is being discussed in communities throughout the county, with public submissions encouraged before a deadline of October 13.

Cllr Michael McMahon said that he was greatly pleased with the turnout which he claimed was one of the highest engagements in the country, adding that the engagement with the general public was both encouraging and proved that people were genuinely interested in the future of their town.

Graham Diamond, who is an Executive Planner with the forward planning unit of Donegal County Council was one of two senior council staff who attended on the evening.

Graham Diamond, Executive Planner with Donegal County Council

He said: “We have prepared a draft county development plan, which deals with a wide range of issues over the next six years ranging from things ranging from the diversification of tourism, Gaeltacht area, economic development, rural housing, renewable energy and this time around it also includes area plans for Buncrana, Bundoran and Ballybofey/Stranorlar.

“We are just here this evening in Bundoran at a event organised in the local community centre, a very well attended event and we are obviously just focusing more in Bundoran this evening, presenting a new land use zoning map which shows opportunities for housing development, economic development, regeneration opportunities and we are trying to generate public interest in the plan and invite submissions to ourselves by October 13.”

At this juncture he said that the submissions would be considered in the Chief Executive;s Report and the plan amended if necessary.

He rejected completely the notion, espoused by some, that such plans were a ‘fait accompli’ and that the input of locals was little more than a token gesture.

“Absolutely not. This is an opportunity for people that are interested in the development of the town to come out and give us their say. 

Cllr Michael McMahon at the Draft Development Plan open evening in Bundoran's Community Centre

“There is nothing set in stone and these plans provide a stepping stone for funding and regeneration opportunities going forward, So it is important that these projects of interest are brought forward and listed here and we get the right places developed at the tight time, So I would encourage to come out, there is nothing to lose by getting your say in here (and on the other plans throughout the county) and we would absolutely encourage it,” Mr Dolan affirmed.       

He did not support the idea that the town was any worse off in terms of development, following the abolition of the town council in 2014.

“I don’t think that it is lagging behind as a result of the absence of a town council. The fact that we are here tonight, we are trying to encourage as much interest as possible is testament to that.”

He said that Bundoran can do equally well in terms of the identification of regeneration areas and in doing so provide a good basis for funding opportunities. 

“Bundoran is possibly a little bit different because of the tourism focus, but I am hearing from people tonight that the town needs to diversify too and that is recognised in the local area plan and something that the council would be very supportive of and that is recognised as well.”

Areas that have been identified within the plan of course have a tourism dimension, but there was also other areas, 

“We take that as a given, we have to have that focus. There was talk tonight about possible synergies with the focus towards Sligo, that we need more housing supply. The census figures from 2022 certainly point to a need for reexamination of things like housing land and possibly schools. 

“They show an increase of about 600 people on the last census, a significant jump in a town of this size and even anecdotally tonight we are being told that that is not truly reflective of the numbers here. So we will have to look at that.”

Some of the talk on the night revolved around skate parks, the area around Waterworld, there is talk of joining the Rougey walk with the other coastal walk in the West End and we have people that are suggesting that there should be more amenities available along those walks, such as shelters and in terms of regeneration areas that stood out was around the Ulster Tourist House area and other vacancies and dereliction in the West End, 

“That is another area that needs to be looked into. We need to focus on getting people back into the town’s,” he concluded.     

“There are proposals in there but they are at very early stages for a one way system in the town’s system, that is something that is still in train and supported in the local area plan, to see if we could alleviate traffic congestion off the Main Street. 

“But these are options and at a very early stage and whether people would see this as desirable, but at least it is there for the exploring because I do understand that summer time traffic can get quite congested on the Main Street.

Paul Christie, Donegal County Council’s senior planner later the conversation and added from the feedback, that he had received many interesting observations:

“It’s pretty clear. And that is to sustain and maintain tourism, but at the same time dealing with some of the domestic challenges, like providing more housing. Seeing it delivered within the town.

He accepted that its proximity to Sligo and the ATU were also factors that were forming part of the creative narrative that lay ahead for the resort. 

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“It forms part of the Atlantic economic corridor, which is also a good thing.” he said.

In the bigger scheme of things, he cited Bundoran as an important service town within the wider area.

The other obvious thing is the dereliction at one end of the town and part of the plan would be trying to address such issues and figuring out what ways the council can intervene and tackle those problems, he added. 

“Everything is up online and submissions can be made by email or post, so I would encourage people to get involved. 

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He concluded: “One issue that has been flagged very significantly is the Fire Station position. The comments today have been that the existing station is very substandard and sooner or later the council is going to have to come to some corporate position on it. That’s the biggest issue I have heard so far today.”    

It had been also been pointed out to him, that no identifiable area on the draft plan, currently indicated where a new station might be located in the future, and that the plan should be identifying a site, but in the first instance, he said thai would require the Council to take a corporate position on that.