Meeting hears other towns should follow example set by Balla

Balla has been hailed as a ‘template’ for other towns and villages to follow after making rapid progress with a number of community projects in recent years.

The most recent meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District took place at the former Balla Courthouse, which has now been transformed into a remote working hub, adjoining the local community centre.

Manager of the Balla Community Resources Development (CRD) group Niall O’Neill told the meeting in addition to this facility, the town had also recently opened a walkway development at Woodlands Park estate, a Sensory Park and it has also installed four new defibrillators at key locations around the town. Balla also improved its Tidy Towns marks by 85 points since 2015.

In addition, a project being completed under the Raise The Roof initiative has now gone to tender and Ballina-based consultants ACT Studio have also completed an exciting plan to guide the development of the town over the next decade. There are also a number of other projects in the pipeline, said Mr O’Neill.

Cllr Harry Barrett commended the CRD team.

“You have put out the template for other towns to follow,” he said.

Cllr Blackie Gavin said they were doing a wonderful job in Balla.

“The town is looking really well and it is no surprise that your Tidy Towns marks have gone through the roof.” Cllr Donna Sheridan, who is from the area, said it was an honour to chair a meeting in her hometown.

“In Balla, everyone from the GAA club to the school come together for a common goal. The model in Balla should be replicated,” she said.

“With the strides being made in the Balla Autism Friendly Town project, I truly believe that Balla is the most inclusive town in the county.” She urged councillors to continue to support the town and said a pressing issue would be to find a way to deal with issues involving school traffic in the early morning.