€7.5m allocated for major Laytown community and recreation project

Plans for a major new community and recreational facility in Laytown have been recommended to proceed, with €7.5 million in Government funding allocated to the Tara Road Community Centre and Park Project.

The funding forms part of a Government investment programme supporting 120 projects across every local authority in the State.

The announcement means that more than €14 million is expected to be invested in the project, when combined with Meath County Council’s reported €7.5 million commitment.

Fine Gael Councillor Sharon Tolan welcomed the funding, describing it as a “transformative investment” for East Meath and a major step towards delivering much-needed community infrastructure.

“This is a hugely significant day for East Meath and I am absolutely delighted to see €7.5 million secured for the Tara Road Community Centre and Park Project,” she said.

“East Meath has experienced enormous population growth over many years, but community infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. This project is about addressing that deficit and delivering the facilities that local families, community groups and residents have long been calling for.”

Cllr Tolan said she was particularly proud to have played a key role in advancing the project, including championing the original purchase of the six-acre site and ensuring that a dedicated community centre formed part of the overall vision.

She also paid tribute to Meath County Council staff, local community groups, organisations and volunteers who contributed to the project.

The proposed Laytown/Bettystown Community Building and Amenity Park is planned for a 2.5-hectare site on Tara Road, Bettystown, close to existing schools, residential areas and public transport links.

A Part 8 Chief Executive’s Report prepared by Meath County Council recommends that the development proceed as proposed.

The project will include a two-storey community building, with a footprint of approximately 2,000 square metres and a total gross floor area of around 3,200 square metres.

The building will feature a café, community rooms, a full-size multi-functional sports hall, changing facilities, public toilets, reception and foyer areas, storage, a viewing gallery and flexible spaces for community, sporting, educational and social activities.

The wider public park will provide a range of recreational facilities, including a skatepark, pump track, dirt loop track for BMX and bikes, a learn-to-cycle area, two padel courts and a pickleball court.

There will also be formal and natural play areas, picnic and gathering spaces, an open lawn, community orchard, outdoor classroom, table tennis facilities and landscaped green areas.

The plans include pedestrian and cycle routes throughout the site, bicycle parking, seating, lighting, signage and timber bridges over existing drainage ditches to provide access from Tara Road.

According to the report, the development is intended to provide a central community and recreational hub for the growing populations of Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington East, Donacarney and Mornington.

Five submissions were received during the public consultation process. All were supportive of the proposed development, although several sought changes or additions to the detailed design.

Southeast Meath Foróige and the East Coast Family Resource Centre both called for dedicated youth facilities, including a flexible youth space and rooms suitable for mentoring, family support and youth programmes.

The Drogheda Cycling Group supported the project but recommended high-quality covered bicycle parking, secure bike stands and further consideration of traffic-calming measures.

Protect East Meath also supported the development but called for the removal of standard car parking spaces, retaining accessible parking only, and urged that the facility be primarily accessed by walking, cycling and public transport.

The Council’s planning report states that the issues raised could be considered during the detailed design and operational stages and that none of the submissions raised matters that would materially affect the planning merits of the proposal.

The report also notes that the Council’s Transport Section raised no objection to the proposed entrance arrangements, while the Environment, Flooding and Surface Water Section also reported no objection.

An ecological assessment concluded that, subject to mitigation measures, the project would not result in significant negative ecological impacts and could have a positive effect on biodiversity through native planting and habitat management.