In today's Indo and Journal, there are articles regarding Fingal CoCo's plan for 1,200 new homes in Ballymastone (see links below). The split will be 50% private homes, 20% affordable homes and 30% social housing.
Given that the population of Donabate will be over 20,000 in a few short years, is it time that we stop referring to it as a village and start calling it a town? In doing so, should we start looking to have it developed as a town instead of being left as an accidental hamlet to Swords?
Currently there is no town/village centre, just a road through to Portrane. There is no commercial centre befitting the number of residents currently living and expected to live in Donabate. There are residential units crammed right up to the 'main street' of the village with little or no place for any commercial units to set up or expand. SuperValu are in the prime location with the main car park, and they are certainly not going to want to do anything to upset the status quo. All the shops that have failed on the main street in recent years is because there is nothing to draw people to the area, no focal point. Easier to get the quick shop in SuperValu and head back to the car park than to go to any alternative out on the street.
Solutions - well my crazy idea would be to move the train station south, back towards Malahide. Use the train station lands to bring a road around to the back of SuperValu and out around Keelings. Build a small multi-story car park to increase parking density. Put in a Garda station, GP, commercial units, restaurants, pub etc. and maybe get rid of the glut of bookies.
If you think any of the above is daft......remember, 20,000 residents in a few years! There are towns around the country with half the population and have much more - why should we be forgotten about?
Just putting it out there, suggestions and comments welcome - it's all about getting debate started and ideas put out there, we might just hit on a good one.
http://www.thejournal.ie/fingal-council ... 0-Aug2018/
https://www.independent.ie/business/per ... 20927.html
DonabatePortrane.net
A community board for residents of Donabate and Portrane