Submission - Pádraig Concannon by email - 23/10/2023
Hi
I'd like it put on record that the current proposal, which prioritises parking is not something I think any local resident can support.
There is no lack of parking currently in Enfield. There is parking available on main street, behind the Gregory, adjacent to the SuperValu, behind the Emo station, behind the Tesco, adjacent to the little Italy restaurant, and at the train station. There is the capacity to expand this if needed by cooperating with the local sports organisations for day time, weekday parking. There are also the ongoing developments to the east of the town that offer opportunities for future parking developments.
Placing 100 car parking spaces in the centre of a village is bad town planning writ large. Traffic congestion is already a major issue in Enfield and this development is incentivising commuters and drivers to drive into the centre of the village. It makes the village less liveable, less pedestrian friendly and will ultimately hurt the local businesses this development is professing to help.
My final observation is the opportunity cost of the development. This space, in the centre of the village, is far too valuable to be given away to something as uninspired and unneeded as a car park. The possible alternatives are endless. A green space with picnic benches, a public garden, with space for a weekend market is my preferred solution. We could look at providing an outdoor concert area, skate park, BMX track or something similar that would cater to teenagers. A small bit of imagination could see that space being used as a craft centre, or a hot desk for start-ups and local businesses. Given the expansion of the area, could the space not be used for a public amenity sports centre or something similar.
The most central plot of development space in a growing town being set aside as a car park is a real sign that planners have given up on Enfield as nothing more than a commuter town with no character or sense of community. Surely the council can do better?
Tuairimí
Hi
I'd like it put on record that the current proposal, which prioritises parking is not something I think any local resident can support.
There is no lack of parking currently in Enfield. There is parking available on main street, behind the Gregory, adjacent to the SuperValu, behind the Emo station, behind the Tesco, adjacent to the little Italy restaurant, and at the train station. There is the capacity to expand this if needed by cooperating with the local sports organisations for day time, weekday parking. There are also the ongoing developments to the east of the town that offer opportunities for future parking developments.
Placing 100 car parking spaces in the centre of a village is bad town planning writ large. Traffic congestion is already a major issue in Enfield and this development is incentivising commuters and drivers to drive into the centre of the village. It makes the village less liveable, less pedestrian friendly and will ultimately hurt the local businesses this development is professing to help.
My final observation is the opportunity cost of the development. This space, in the centre of the village, is far too valuable to be given away to something as uninspired and unneeded as a car park. The possible alternatives are endless. A green space with picnic benches, a public garden, with space for a weekend market is my preferred solution. We could look at providing an outdoor concert area, skate park, BMX track or something similar that would cater to teenagers. A small bit of imagination could see that space being used as a craft centre, or a hot desk for start-ups and local businesses. Given the expansion of the area, could the space not be used for a public amenity sports centre or something similar.
The most central plot of development space in a growing town being set aside as a car park is a real sign that planners have given up on Enfield as nothing more than a commuter town with no character or sense of community. Surely the council can do better?
Kind regards,
Pádraig Concannon
16 The Avenue,
Rathdale,
Enfield,
Co. Meath