Work due to start on significant project in Offaly at end of March

A member of the Offaly County Council executive told the Midland Tribune this week that the long-planned improvement works for Ferbane Fair Green are due to start at the end of March.

“The Ferbane Fair Green Town and Village Renewal Scheme is still very much alive,” she told the Tribune, “and we are planning to start the works at the end of March. One of our Engineers spoke to Cllr Hughie Egan this week and explained the details of the project. The Government Department Grant is €250,000. The match funding hasn't been officially assigned yet but it will probably be about €35,000.”

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The project has been described as “significant” and it received planning permission in December 2022. The works will include the construction of an attractive public park space with hard and soft landscaping including stone paving, gravel paths, a grassed area, trees and hedging.

It will entail the partial demolition of the redundant fire station (leaving the facade intact which will be used as a gateway to the public park). Four parking spaces will be available in the area, for residents only. An at-gate crossing will be created which will link to the existing mass path.

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A new pedestrian opening will be created in the boundary wall of the community centre car park, and new public lighting will be installed. Proposed by Ferbane Tidy Towns, the aim is to provide an open space that incorporates a plaza, terraced lawn, orchard, rain garden and re-organised parking.

It is intended as a town park, linking with the mass path as a sensory route.