Ballinasloe street scheme falls well short

Funding for street scheme enhancement in Ballinasloe won’t even come close to satisfying the demands of businesses which want to participate.
That’s according to Cllr Timmy Broderick, said that businesses could apply for up to €4,000 to improve the front of their premises in the aftermath of the €8 million town enhancement scheme that has been completed.
But at last week’s Ballinasloe Municipal Area meeting, Cllr Broderick revealed that there were 79 applications for grant assistance –with only €80,000 available.
“It is an insult to those who have to undertake major works on their street frontages,” he added.
Cllr Broderick said that last July, Galway County Council advertised for interested businesses to apply for funding for works to improve the street scape in the town of Ballinasloe.
The Kilconnell-based councillor proposed that €200,000 be made available under this scheme by Galway County Council and he received a lot of support for this motion.
“What we are looking at is a paltry amount considering the turmoil that all of businesses have been through in Ballinasloe in recent times from the pandemic to the town enhancement scheme and associated road closures,” he said.
“This would go towards providing the businesses with a 50% grant towards the works which means that there would be an investment of €400,000 in the town’s street scape which would be a wonderful achievement.
Roscommon-Galway TD Denis Naughten said that grant schemes such as this can make a huge difference in the appearance of a town and on its potential to attract not just shoppers but also potential new businesses.
“A similar scheme was carried out in Roscommon town where conservation and improvement works were grant funded on Church Street which has greatly improved the street scape in what is a busy area in the centre of the town.”
As well as commercial property, Deputy Naughten is also advocating that local authorities entice vacant houses to on town streets to be purchased by providing a grant of €15,000 to the new owners that would off-set against their mortgages.
“The reality is that there are quite a number of towns like Ballinasloe where bringing families back into vacant homes and buildings will bring new life into a community as well as supporting existing schools, clubs and local services,” Deputy Naughten added.