5 Recreation,
Tourism and The Arts |
The Council is committed to the protection and sustainable development of
the amenities of the County for recreational purposes to the benefit of
residents of the County as well as the promotion of Tourism.
The Council will endeavour to make provision for a hierarchy of parks
open spaces and out door recreation areas within the County so that the
population can participate in a wide range of active and passive recreational
pursuits within easy reach of their homes and places of work.
The prerogative to maintain and enhance existing open space, sport and
recreational facilities as well as providing new facilities permeates
all levels of national planning advice.
(a) The National Development Plan
The benefits of a healthy population are identified in the National Development
Plan and funds are allocated for provision of physical infrastructure
for recreation in deprived urban and rural areas.
(b) Sustainable development A Strategy for Ireland
The principle of sustainability and encouragement to all forms of sustainable
development underline the Dept. of the Environment and Local Government’s
approach to planning. Providing opportunities for people to participate
in sport and in a wide range of formal and informal recreation activities
should where ever possible be available for everyone, including the elderly,
young children and those with disabilities for whom access to facilities
is especially important.
(c) Parks Policy for Local Authorities (1987)
This document identifies that a co-ordinated approach to the provision
of public parks and outdoor recreation areas is necessary if public demand
is to be adequately catered for and if maximum value is to be obtained
from the limited resources available.
(d) Targeting Sporting Change in Ireland
This document sets out a clear blueprint for the development of Irish
sport with regard to facilities. A Strategic goal is the provision of
quality sports facilities in the right place at the right time.
(e) Residential Density Guidelines for Planning Authorities
Permeating through the guidelines is the concept that achievement of higher
densities must be coupled with a higher standard of residential environment
and thus the provision of higher quality public and communal open space.
The Council recognises that the countryside has an important function
in providing outdoor recreational facilities not only for the population
of the County but also for visitors and tourists. It is recognised that
the provision of tourist facilities is an integral part of the provision
of outdoor recreational facilities in the countryside and that the two
types of demand are not necessarily the same.
Drawing from the relevant National guidelines and the provisions and
experience of the previous development plan the following will form the
Councils policy objectives.
Provision of Facilities Generally
It will be the policy of the Council to co operate with local development
organisations, community groups, the Co. Kilkenny Vocational Educational
Committee, and others in the development of recreational facilities throughout
the County and to enter into joint venture arrangements where appropriate
for the provision of such facilities.
Protection of open space
It will be the policy of the Council not to permit development which would
result in the loss of public or private playing fields, parks, children’s
play space amenity open space or zoned land for recreational or open space
purposes. An exception may be considered where the following requirements
are met and demonstrable:
- There is a clear excess of playing fields or open space provision within
the area. This should take into account the long term needs of the community,
the type and recreational and amenity value of such provision.
- Alternative provision is made which is both accessible and of equal
or greater quality and benefit to the community.
- The retention or enhancement of the facility can best be achieved by
the redevelopment of a small part of the site that will not affect its
sporting, recreation or amenity value.
- The site is indicated for an alternative use in the development plan.
Open Space in New Residential Development
The Council will require the provision of open space to the following
minimum standard:
2.4 hectares per 1,000 population (circa 25 dwellings or greater) (see
Development Control Section)
• A lesser standard of provision may be acceptable in urban development
or redevelopment schemes where open space is already available with relatively
high densities such as flats townhouses or apartments, but should generally
still amount to at least 10% of the total site area.
• Open space provision for smaller residential developments and
schemes catering for special groups such as accommodation for the elderly
or single persons will be considered on merit
• Developers may also be required to provide an equipped children’s
playground in association with open space provision where a development
scheme would be greater than 800 meters from an existing easily accessible
equipped children’s playground.
• Developers will be required to make suitable provision for the
future management and maintenance of open space required under this policy.
Outdoor Recreation in the Countryside
The Council will normally permit development proposals for outdoor recreational
use in the countryside where all the following criteria are met:
- It will not result in damage to sites of nature conservation importance
or features of the archaeological and built heritage;
- It will not result in the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural
land;
- It will not cause harm to the appearance and character of the local
landscape and can be readily absorbed into its surroundings by taking
advantage of existing vegetation and /or topography;
- The amenity of the people living nearby or the enjoyment of other countryside
users is not adversely affected by the nature, scale, extent, frequency
or timing of the recreational activities proposed including any noise
likely to be generated;
- Any ancillary built development is small in scale, designed to a high
standard and sympathetic to the surrounding environment in its siting,
layout and landscape treatment.
- Consideration is given to access to the proposed facility by means of
transport other than the private car and;
- The local road network can safely handle the extra traffic the proposal
would generate and satisfactory arrangements are provided for access,
parking, drainage, litter and sewage.
The Council is aware of the considerable recreational potential which
is available in the mountain, hill areas and river valleys both in the
county and just outside its borders. The council will co-operate with
the adjoining Authorities and with other interested parties such as Bord
Failte, An Taisce, mountaineering, game clubs, and other appropriate organisations
to protect the potential of these areas and to carry out appropriate developments
as and when resources permit. Such developments would comprise the laying
out of walks, bridle paths, access points to streams and lakes, new access
roads and car parks, lay-byes and picnic sites, climbing huts and hostels.
Intensive Sports Facilities
The Council will normally only permit development proposals for intensive
sports facilities where these are located within settlements and provided
all of the following criteria are met:
- It will not have any direct impact on residential amenity;
- It is located so as to be accessible to the catchment population and
gives priority to walking , cycling and public transport and does not
generate unacceptable levels of traffic;
- It is designed so as to minimise the impact of noise and light pollution;
- There is no significant detrimental impact on the natural environment
or features of the archaeological and built heritage;
- The proposal is of a high quality design and respects and contributes
to the character of its location and townscape and
- The proposal is compatible with development plan zonings.
Noise Generating sports
Where development proposals for sport or recreational uses generating
high levels of noise are proposed permission will be considered where
the following criteria are met:
- The proposal will not cause an unacceptable level of disturbance to
local residents.
- The proposal will not cause an unacceptable level of disturbance to
farm live stock and wildlife.
- The proposal will not conflict with enjoyment of areas used for informal
recreation.
- The ambient noise level in the area is already high and the tone of
noise produced by the new activity will not be dominant.
Development associated with water sports
The Council will normally only permit proposals for development associated
with water sports adjacent to inland lakes and waterways where all of
the following criteria are met:
- The proposed facilities are compatible with any existing use of the
water, including non recreational uses;
- It will not result in damage to sites of nature conservation importance
or features of the archaeological and built heritage.
- The development can be satisfactorily integrated into its landscape
or townscape surroundings;
- The development will not have an unacceptable impact on visual amenity
especially in Areas of Special Amenity, or other locally important scenic
areas; and
- The development will not result in over intensification of use leading
to pollution, excessive noise and nuisance.
The floodlighting of Recreational Facilities
The Council will normally only permit proposals for the floodlighting
of recreational facilities where the amenities of adjacent residents will
not be significantly impaired and the visual amenity and character of
the locality will not be adversely affected.
Development Levies for Sports and Recreation facilities
The Council will continue to levy a sum of money from each housing unit
proposed to go to the provision of public open space. A separate fund
will be set up to assist in the provision and development of open space
and recreational facilities throughout the City and County.
Appropriate levels of Sports and Recreation Provision
It will be the policy of the Council to ensure that developers be required
to make provision for sport and recreational infrastructure commensurate
with the needs of their developments as an integral element of their proposals.
Such provision should include direct provision on or off site or a development
levy to enable the Council to make appropriate alternative provision.
It will be Council’s policy to maximise the use of resources. The
appropriate standards are detailed in the development Control section
of the Plan.
- During the period of the Plan it is an objective of the Council to
prepare a detailed recreation study of the County dealing with the quantitative
and qualitative aspects of recreation within the County and setting out
a strategy for the future provision of recreational facilities within
the County.
- It is an objective of the Council in conjunction with Kilkenny Corporation
to develop a new swimming pool on a suitable site within Kilkenny City
and its environs. A feasibility study has been carried out and the site
selection process is underway at present.
Between 1992 and 1997 the number of overseas tourists visiting the South
East increased by 37%. This was below the national growth rate in overseas
tourist arrivals during the same period. However, a large proportion of
this national growth was concentrated in Dublin. If Dublin is excluded,
the South East is on a par with the average of the other regions. The
South East region had the fourth largest growth rate after Dublin, Midlands
East and the Cork/Kerry regions.
International tourism expenditure is forecast to grow by close to 6%
per annum in real terms over the next decade. Further considerable growth
in the market share by Ireland is achievable and appropriate investment
decisions have the potential to deliver substantial gains for the regions.*
Kilkenny is part of the South East Region and tourism is promoted and
marketed by the South East Regional Tourism Organisation (S.E.R.T.O.).
A regional Tourism Plan 2000 to 2006 has been prepared in the context
of the National Development Plan by SERTO. The Plan focuses on the promotion
and marketing of the landscape of the region and developing amenities
including angling, cycling, festivals, and golf and heritage tourism.
Kilkenny’s international reputation as a centre of design and high
quality craft production is a proven asset. Kilkenny Arts Week and the
Cats Laughs comedy festival have raised the profile of Kilkenny City as
a tourism destination.
Tourism made a significant contribution to employment and economic growth
nationally in the period 1994 – 1999 and is seen as a sector which
can make a contribution to balanced regional development and in particular
rural development.*
*Source NDP
Tourist attractions in the County outside the City are Mount Juliet Estate
Dunmore caves, Jerpoint Abbey, Rice House in Callan, Duiske Abbey in Graiguenamanagh,
Kells Priory, Windgap Slate quarries and Woodstock Estate.
There are other areas of the County which have untapped potential and
could be successfully developed in terms of a sustainable tourism product.
Sustainable tourism involves a positive approach to harmonising the interactions
between the physical environment and the host communities. The Council
will co operate with the Borough Council in encouraging the role of Kilkenny
City as a major tourism destination
The Council will support the integrated regional approach taken by Bord
Failte and the South East Regional Tourism Organisation and Kilkenny to
raise the profile of the South East as a tourism destination in its own
right.
Kilkenny County Council is committed to the development and expansion
of Tourism within the County and will continue to support the activities
of organisations such as Bord Failte, S.E.R.T.A, LEADER, Kilkenny City
and County Tourism and Local Development Groups in the promotion and development
of Kilkenny City and County as a tourist destination.
It will be the policy of the Council in its role as a Planning Authority
to support the development and expansion of tourism within the County
by:
(a) Protecting and enhancing existing resources and to facilitate activities
based tourism facilities throughout the County, subject to the requirements
of development control set out in this plan.
(b) Encouraging the development of agri-tourism in rural areas.
(c) Encouraging the provision of indoor and activities based tourism
facilities and events which extend the tourism season .
(d) Preserving the views of special amenity value throughout the County.
(e) Consulting with Bord Failte, SERTO, Kilkenny Tourism and local tourism
groups in order to improve the adequacy of directional sign posting for
tourists within the County.
(f) Co-operating with the Kilkenny Borough Council in encouraging the
role of Kilkenny City as a major tourism destination.
(g) Supporting the marketing of Kilkenny through the initiatives of the
Kilkenny Marketing Strategy Group and Kilkenny Tourism
(h) Preserving the scenic and landscape beauty of the County.
(i) Encouraging the development of outdoor recreational /leisure activities
which are based on the natural amenities and resources of an area.
(j) Providing public rights of way to places of special beauty, amenity
or recreational value or having views of outstanding quality. The Council
shall also seek the preservation and maintenance and improvement of all
existing rights of way to such areas.
(k) Providing a significant level of investment in the provision of roads
and sanitary services infrastructure which will help to foster the development
of Tourism within the County.
In order to maximise the benefits of tourism for the City and County
it is an objective of the Council to prepare a Kilkenny Tourism Plan during
the period of this Plan in co operation with other relevant bodies and
tourism interests.
5.3 The
Arts/Cultural Development |
Cultural development should be seen as an integral part of the overall
development of the County. The culture of a County, City or town is one
of the crucial aspects which distinguishes it from other counties or cities.
It includes speech, language, theatre, music painting, dance, literature,
photography, architecture and more. Knowledge and awareness of the distinct
cultural experience of a place or an area is necessary if cultural development
is to take place; such knowledge links the past with the present and the
future and helps provide a community with a sense of place of its cultural
identity.
The Council provides financial assistance within the limits of its resources
towards the development of the Arts and considers that a multi faceted
cultural activity has an important contribution to, make in the lives
of residents in the County as well as in tourism development.
Kilkenny Arts week, the Kilkenny Design Centre and the Cats Laughs comedy
festival have fulfilled an important role in the cultural development
of the County and have raised the profile of the county internationally.
A need has been identified for a multipurpose Arts Resource centre for
the City and County, which will be available to all sections of the community
for its artistic and cultural development.
It will be Council Policy to:
a) Promote the development of the Arts in the County through a variety
of measures and in consultation with the Arts Council the Crafts Council
and other relevant bodies.
b) To draw up a policy for the development of the Arts throughout the
County within the period of the plan.
a) It is an objective of the Council to prepare a development plan for
the Arts within City and County during the period of this plan.
b) It is an objective of the Council to provide an Arts Resource Centre
for the City and County.
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