To Whom It May Concern:

Re. The above I wish to make the following proposals...

1. It is my contention, with its proximity to Dublin city and airport, the site of the former Sugar Factory should be developed and turned into either a film studio OR theme park along the lines of 'Harry Potter/Tayto Park' and 'The Tower' retained as both an Observation Platform and an iconic symbol/logo of a new Carlow not unlike Belfast's Samson and Goliath Cranes or Dublin's Spire. I feel the knock on effect of either of these could inject much needed inward investment into the local economy and put Carlow on the tourist map internationally aswell as having a massive impact on Carlow's development and future infrastructural regeneration.

2. A pilot scheme build of affordable housing to consist of communities of Wood/Log Houses, in an effort to break away from the brick and mortar stranglehold and create modern housing that is affordable, eco friendly, aesthetically pleasing and contributes to, rather than detracts from the environment. Those given priority to these schemes should include young families, first time buyers, asylum seekers, (struggling) artists and the elderly. Bagenalstown, I believe would be an ideal setting for an embryonic version of such a community.

3. As I live in Bagenalstown, with a young family, I would like to see an inclusive Community Centre, aimed specifically at disenfranchised young people giving them an all year round space to congregate, commune and learn new skills ie. Arts/Culture, Computing, Sports, Games. Aswell, as Bagenalstown is now a multicultural inclusive community, I would see this centre as an ideal opportunity for the local community to learn from, and about other cultures.

4. I'd like to see Bagenalstown Main St. pedestrianised and perhaps hold a daily/weekly market with perhaps onstreet entertainment. I can see this inject new life into the town aswell as having great tourist potential.

5. I'd like to see an annual Bagenalstown River Festival as part of a cross Carlow, Barrow celebration. Again this could have great tourist potential.

6. As I work in Borris Focus Centre and have contact with Borris Festival of Writing and Ideas*, I'd like to see a festival for the whole Borris Community that is run in conjunction with, and complementary to the Festival, I may stand to be corrected, but I believe this is the wish of the Festival organisers also, I also believe the Festival aside this could a great boon to local tourism and Carlow Tourism as a whole.

*(I came up with idea of having a writing competition in conjunction with the Festival, Borris Focus Centre and Carlow County Library and this was a great success at last year's festival attracting entries from many parts of the country).

Kind regards,

Joe Campbell

Carlow County Development Plan 2022 – 2028 : Issues Paper - Submissions

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