Hero Image: South Street in New Ross // Google Maps 2018
The centre of New Ross could be overhauled into a car-free zone.
That's according to Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Sheehan, who says the new Town Centre First policy will breathe life back into the town.
The policy sees one town across the 26 counties chosen to 'tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life' into the towns.
Tullow in Carlow, Roscrea in Tipperary, Urlingford in Kilkenny, and Portlaw in Waterford have all been chosen to receive new funding and schemes that will make the town centre a more attractive place to live and work.
New Ross is the candidate in Wexford, with the town already beginning to see what Sheehan has called a 'mini revolution' following the construction of the Rose Kennedy-Fitzgerald bridge, taking heavy N25 traffic away from the town centre.
And the former Mayor of Wexford says there is a possibility to go one step further and take all cars away from the centre of the town within 10 years.
"This pulls all facets together to create one master print for every other development that happens in New Ross in the next five to 10 years" Sheehan told Beat News this week.
And it doesn't matter if you're looking to live in New Ross, you've just moved to New Ross, or you're living in New Ross, you have an opportunity to shape how it looks, and everyone's voice matters.
"How do you want to see the town develop? What is your view on it?"
One of those suggested plans is the potential pedestrianisation of towns. It's a scheme that has been suggested already for New Ross, and could be made a reality under the new multi-faceted project.
"It's all about rejuvenating and redefining the town centre. When I was younger you would have gotten into your car to go down to the shops, do your shopping, get back into the car, and off you go. Now, this is more holistic, as we're planning a town centre without cars.
"I'm not saying this is going to happen - we'd have to see what comes out in the wash. But if we were to pedestrianise streets in the main towns across the South-East - what would you do with it? Where would you do it, and how would it link in, and how would it impact on other traffic flows?
"You look at most Irish towns in the last 50 years, and New Ross isn't any different - we had a chemical and fertilizer factory right in the middle of town!
"This is why I'm so passionate about the Town Centre First policy, because this is the place where we want everyone to come to."
