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Pictured with Minister of State, Damien English (right) at a recent workshop on Town Centre Health Checks in Dublin Castle were l-r: Martha Farrell (IT Tralee), Noreen O’Mahony (Kerry County Council) and Kevin Burns (Kerry County Council). Photo: Iain White/Fennell Photography
THE results of a study of Tralee town centre will be presented in June to provide the framework for further renewal of the town.
Back in October, Tralee was chosen as one of ten ‘pilot’ towns in the National Town Centre Health Check (TCHC) Training Programme.
‘Town Centre Health Check’ surveys of Tralee’s Historic Town Centre were conducted by IT Tralee students during October and November 2016 which included:
• Land Use surveys to establish the overall vacancy rates in the town.
• Footfall surveys to establish actual town centre visitor numbers.
• Shoppers surveys to rate visitor experience and satisfaction.
• Retailer surveys to establish current levels of commercial activity and outlook.
Other surveys carried out by Kerry County Council included:
• Vehicle counts,
• Mapping of car parking patterns,
• Accessibility audits
Environmental quality and crime figures will also be incorporated into the study. All the above work will be supported by existing studies carried out by Tralee Chamber Alliance and Kerry County Council.
The Tralee Town Centre Health Check is part of a National Town Centre Health Check (TCHC) Training Programme involving research and engaging key stakeholders in order to raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the critical role that historical town centres play and the impact they have on the overall socio-economic, environment and cultural growth and development and quality of life for citizens and visitors alike.
Representatives from Kerry County Council, Tralee Chamber Alliance and IT Tralee, with on-going support provided by the Heritage Council, have formed the Tralee Town Centre Health Check steering group and engaged in a collaborative process to achieve defined goals over the coming months.
Members of the steering group also attended two workshops – one in Naas and one in Dublin Castle – where they shared best practices and experiences with the other towns involved.
