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Omeath residents got the chance last week to view and comment on plans for enhancing the popular seaside village.
The Omeath Placemaking Scheme involves the regeneration of the heart of the village, with improvements to the public realm as well as road improvements that aim to increase footfall and maximise the tourism potential of the Great Eastern Greenway which runs through the heart of the village.
The project will enhance a sense of place and make it more inviting to both locals and visitors. The shorefront and current green space will benefit from the ambitious scheme while there will be improved connectivity to the proposed greenway to Newry.
The works include; public realm works to increase the amount of pedestrian space, the creation of shared spaces, renewed traffic systems in the heart of the village, realignment of junctions in favour of the pedestrian, measures to decrease vehicular speed and improved lighting to the village core.
There will be a new cycle lane and pedestrian path along the shore front, cycle parking facilities, speed control ramps, more seating areas, increased planting of native trees and shrubs as well as a parklet in the centre of the village.
The overall scheme aims to develop/ refurbish the streetscape into a modern urban space which balances the needs of all users. The proposed street layout of the scheme generally involves widening the footpaths, narrowing the road width, tighten the turning radii at junctions, providing more pedestrian crossings and providing a new urban square at the pier.
It's also proposed that the Station Road would become a one way system with Cluian Na Mara becoming a pedestrianised and shared area.
The proposed street layout would prioritise sustainable modes of transport such as walking and cycling by creating a low speed pedestrian friendly environment.
The Omeath Placemaking Scheme objectives
- Enhance the pedestrian and cycling experience in the village
- Reduce the dominance of vehicles both along the main road and through the village
- Enable Omeath to become a gateway to the greenway
- Increase local biodiversity through native trees and shrubs
- Enhance the sense of place
- Create a more inviting space for locals and visitors
The works are funded by Louth County Council and the Department of Rural Regeneration via the Rural Regeneration Development fund and are part of Project Ireland 2040.
It is planned that work will be complete by the end of 2023.
