The Belmullet Community Futures Action Plan 2019 – 2024 was launched last week by Minister Michael Ring.
The launch was attended by local residents, community groups and business people on Friday, 12 July, in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet.
The Five Year Belmullet Community Futures Action Plan was effectively composed by local residents and business owners (through stakeholder interviews, meetings and household surveys ), and coordinated by the Belmullet Community Futures steering committee, with the assistance of the Mayo Community Futures department of Mayo County Council.
The bilingual action plan summarises views of: Belmullet as it is now; the community’s vision for the future; issues that matter most to the community; and priorities for projects and action. Five themes were highlighted by the people of Belmullet as areas which require immediate attention such as local economy and tourism; environment, culture and heritage; community and recreation; access to services and transport; town enhancement, parking and roads.
The steering committee members are delighted to finally have concrete evidence of what the people of Belmullet actually want to see happening in their community. The action plan is intended to be used as a tool, and a framework, for facilitating much-needed developments in the town.
Speaking at the launch, Margaret Tallott (secretary, Belmullet Community Futures Steering Committee ) said: "Belmullet Tidy Towns applied for the Community Futures Programme on a number of previous occasions, but it was not until this attempt supported by the Erris Chamber of Commerce and 37 local groups that we were successful.
"Having spent over 1,000 volunteer hours on this programme since September 2018 we are excited about seeing this Action Plan being implemented in the next few years by various existing community groups and organisations under the Belmullet Community Futures umbrella."
Chairperson of the steering committee, and also MC on the night, Councillor Sean Carey, expressed gratitude to each and every individual that contributed to the Action Plan since September 2018, and also to all those who helped on the day of the launch, the staff of Áras Inis Gluaire, Peter Hynes (CEO Mayo County Council ) and Minister Michael Ring T.D.
The Community Futures programme is a community-led process which allows residents and businesses to have a voice in decision-making and planned development. The programme was introduced by Mayo County Council in 2006 and since then, over 30 communities have taken part.
Upon launching the Action Plan, Minister Michael Ring paid tribute to the community and stressed the importance of working together to accomplish the priorities set out in the plan, saying: “We won’t be found wanting when it comes to supporting this plan and at the end of the five years, if 97 per cent of this plan is implemented, it will be an incredible achievement.”
Copies of the plan are available at Áras Inis Gluaire and the Belmullet Tidy Towns / Erris Chamber of Commerce office (Chapel Street, Belmullet ). If you would like any further information in relation to the plan, please email [email protected] or call (097 ) 20977.
