Chapter 6 Tourism
Draft Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027
Amendments Ch 6.5 and 6.3.9 and CPO 9.5
Dear Sir /Madam,
We refer to the current Draft Westmeath County Development Plan 2021-2027 with amendments currently on public display. We refer to our earlier submissions in April 2018 and June 2020, and we note the amendments to the map boundaries of the village rural node which are welcomed.
We refer to proposed amendment Chapter 6 CH 6.5 section 6.3.9 and CPO 9.5
6.3.9 Failte Ireland's Guidance on Sustainable Tourism
Failte Ireland promotes the incorporation of the principles of sustainability in the tourism policy section of the County Development Plan. Failte Ireland has developed five key principles that ensure developments achieve a balance between appropriate tourism development and economic, environmental and social sustainability. Developments will be assessed having regard to compliance with these and the associated policies.
Principle 1: Tourism, when it is well managed and properly located, should be recognised as a positive activity which has potential to benefit the host community, the place itself and the visitor alike. Sustainable tourism planning requires a balance to be struck between the needs of the visitor, the place and the host community.
Principle 2: Our landscapes, our cultural heritage, our environment and our linguistic heritage all have an intrinsic value which outweighs their value simply as a tourism asset. However, sustainable tourism planning makes sure that they can continue to be enjoyed and cherished by future generations and not prejudiced simply by short term considerations.
Principle 3: Built development and other activities associated with tourism should in all respects be appropriate to the character of the place in which they are situated. This applies to the scale, design and nature of the place as well as to the particular land use, economic and social requirements of the place and the surroundings.
Principle 4: Strategic tourism assets - including special landscapes, important views, the setting of historic buildings and monuments, areas of cultural significance and access points to the open countryside, should be safeguarded from encroachment by inappropriate development.
Principle 5: Visitor accommodation, interpretation centres and commercial I retail facilities serving the tourism sector should generally be located within established settlements thereby fostering strong links to a whole range of other economic and commercial sectors and sustaining the host communities. Sustainable tourism facilities, when properly located and managed can, especially if accessible by a range of transport modes, encourage longer visitor stays, help to extend the tourism season and add to the vitality of settlements throughout the year. Underlying these principles for Sustainable Tourism, the definitions of economic, environmental and social sustainability against which any tourism project assessed are defined as follows:
As a community we welcome the proposed amendments CH 6.5
CPO9.5
Continue to monitor and review rural nodes in the County, across the lifetime of the Plan,
in order to ensure compatibility with environmental protection objectives. This shall include
a review of the extent and representation of each individual node where appropriate.
WE note the amendment in CPO 9.5 and would request that in light of the contents of the
amendments in chapter 6 and the amendments in CPO 9.5 that you would add an objective
to the draft county development plan under CPO 9.5 stating:
THAT LOUGHNAVALLY VILLAGE SHOULD BE A CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE HERITAGE OFFERING AT THE Hill OF UISNEACH AND THAT PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE TO OVERCOME ANY DEFICIENCY IN SERVICES OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OBJECTIVES TO ACCOMMODATE SUCH FACILITIES.
Yours sincerely,
Loughnavalley Community Development Association
C/O Mr Fergus O'Brien
Chairperson LCD
[Redacted: Personal Information]