THE County Manager has confirmed he plans to set up a high powered steering group to produce a bid for a multi-million project for Letterkenny to be funded by the new Gateway Innovation Fund.
The new Fund was announced last Friday. The ten towns and cities with gateway status now have 23 week to prepare a bid to qualify for funding totalling ¤300 million over three years. The Gateway towns are expected to provide at least twenty per cent of the cost of the proposal which can be raised through private or local funding. There is no guarantee that every gateway town will be successful in its application.
INNOVATIVE
Speaking at Monday night's Town Council meeting the County Manager, Mr Michael McLoone, confirmed he was due to meet key officials from the Department of Environment on Wednesday to clarify how a bid can be constructed and the strict criteria that had to met to in order qualify under the scheme. The objective of the Gateway Innovation Fund is to stimulate and accelerate distinctive and innovative projects in Gateway areas.
The County Manager said the closing date for proposals was November 15. He told members the submission could be for one project or an integrated package of three to four. He said in Letterkenny's case they had to show calloboration with Derry. Mr McLoone said there was a council owned 'strategic site' on the Blaney Road which had huge potential to leverage investment as part of the bid.
"This strategic site of over 30 acres could be the lever and offers huge potential. We must find a way of how we can link that with the facilities in the town such as the new sports centre, An Grianán Theatre and the commercial heart of the town," he said.
The Gateway Innovation Fund is designed to reward co-operation between local authorities in pursuit of ambitious development. Eligible projects include measures to release strategic blocks of land, investment designed to leverage wider development of residential, commercial and industrial activities and Integrated Regeneration Projects to strengthen linkages within and between Gateways.
At Monday night's Town Council meeting members suggested projects such as a new bridge over the River Swilly and the construction of an access road linking Bonagee to Ballyraine were just two projects that could also be considered.
Mayor Ciaran Brogan said a road link between Bonagee and Ballyraine, a weir on the River Swilly and a new bridge across the River Swilly were projects that could be included in any such proposal.
"There's not much point in Letterkenny being designated as a gateway unless we can draw down adequate funding to develop the town," he said.
Cllr Dessie Larkin said it was a challenge for Letterkenny but one he was confident the County Manager and his steering group would meet given the tight deadline.
"Not all gateway towns might qualify and there is the element of how we link our project with Derry," he said.
"I think this is a fantastic opportunity for the town. I've already met officials from the Department of Environment officials about this matter and they've said clearly they want innovative projects," he added.
Cllr Larkin supported the proposals such as the Bonagee link to Ballyraine, the bridge over the River Swilly and linkages to the new entertainment facilities in the town as possible projects but stressed the challenge was to make the project unique.
Cllr Damien Blake said the new fund had the potential to revolutionise the town and he had full confidence the County Manager and his team would identify suitable projects.
The Steering Group will comprise of the Town Clerk, Mr Paddy Doherty, the County Manager, as well as council officials with experience in this field.
