Mall unlikely to see radical changes
Feedback from the community is being sought ahead of any emerging design proposal for the Mall project in Castlebar. A number of immediate areas that require attention have been identified.
Planned works for the Mall in Castlebar will not see the space undergo a ‘major transformation.’
“I know there is some commentary out there that there are some major changes intended for the Mall. That’s certainly not the case. This is enhancement rather than transformative,” said David Mellett, Head of Castlebar Municipal District “There isn’t a budget to do any major transformation here. It’s about protecting the character while addressing some very practical issues,” said Mr Mellett ahead of a public consultation day on the proposed project.
The current budget for the Mall project is just over €1 million.
“We are not presenting any design at all. There is no design on the table. What we have shared is a few of the issues that we see in our operation of the Mall, issues like drainage, damage to the footpaths, overhead services,” he stated.
Mr Mellett said over 100 submissions on the project have been received and views have been balanced.
“The next stage is developing a draft design which reflects those comments.” It is likely to be Spring of next year before a draft design is published.
Niall Taylor, Director of Castlebar-based Taylor McCarney Architects, who will be designing the project, said the company is acutely aware of the importance of the Mall to Castlebar.
“At the end of the day this is the town’s park. We know that. We are from the town,” said Mr Taylor.
“It’s a parkland, it will remain a parkland. That’s not to say that there aren’t improvements and enhancements. When we look at something like this from an urban design perspective, we are not just looking at the Mall in isolation. We are looking at how that might interact with the Imperial and the spaces between the Imperial and the Mall. We are looking at the Barracks, and the Ellison Street back lands and how these things will interconnect,” he added.
He said the extent and location of potential ‘big ticket’ items like plazas and a performance/gathering space has not been determined and more basic aspects will take priority.
“As one trader said to me, ‘fix the things that are broken’ before you do the big-ticket items.” He said the ‘Tier One’ areas that require immediate attention are drainage, planting of trees, widening of paths, seating, and accessibility and safety measures.
“We are conservation architects. People talk about Eyre Square. We are not trying to put Eyre Square here. We know what we are dealing with. We know this is always going to be a parkland and we want to protect the amenity value of the Mall,” said Mr Taylor.
He said the Mall’s history will inform anything they do.
The Mall Master Plan is one part of a broader regeneration strategy for Castlebar Town Centre, supported by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). Other projects include the redevelopment of the Imperial Hotel as an innovation hub, and works at the Military Barracks, and Ellison Street.
Feedback from the consultation process will inform an emerging design proposal, which will undergo further public engagement before any works on the Mall proceed.
Mayo County Council say the consultation process is "part of a broader vision to revitatise the town centre, ensuring that the Mall continues to serve as a vibrant, accessible, and cherished green space for generations to come."
Community feedback so far has suggested footpath works, traffic issues, seating and lighting issues, and a covered performance space.
