Laytown and Bettystown are among six Meath towns and villages allocated a share of a new €7 million “Streetscape Enhancement Initiative” fund to develop streetscapes and shopfronts nationally. The other Meath towns are Slane, Ashbourne, Athboy and Oldcastle.
Minister Humphrey said “The investment is designed to make rural towns and villages more colourful, vibrant and attractive places. Whether it’s painting buildings in vibrant colours, upgrading shop fronts or installing canopies or street furniture – this fund will provide a welcome boost to rural communities the length and breadth of the country. We all know that even the most modest of improvements to our buildings and streetscapes can make a huge difference. And so over the coming weeks, local authorities will work closely with businesses and property owners to give our towns and villages the facelift they deserve.”
The types of projects to be supported include installation of canopies and street furniture and decluttering of streetscapes with removal of unnecessary signs / wires, illumination and lighting of architectural features, strategic collaboration between property owners to paint buildings or shopfronts in vibrant colours, commissioning of murals in towns and villages, the upgrade or restoration of historic / traditional shopfronts, provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes. Businesses and property owners should contact Meath County Council to apply for the funding. §