CLONES TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION

A DRAFT ACTION PLAN

THE VISION FOR THE TOWN CENTRE

• Buzzing with a mix of sustainable retail outlets• No empty shops• Environment which optimises the town’s

history and heritage• Renowned as a town of history and heritage• Welcoming, friendly, accessible, entertaining

STRATEGIC THEMES FOR ACTION

• IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER• COPING WITH THE CAR• CREATING A PRIDE OF PLACE• CREATING AND COMMUNICATING THE BRAND

IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER, SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RETAIL BASE• Organise retail support programme including training and

mentoring• Provide scheme to assist businesses improve shop fronts

or refurbish premises• Develop scheme such as Shop LK organised by

Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce which has seen €1 million of additional sales generated in two years

• Develop the Market House as a special attraction to draw people into the town – include public toilets, tourist office, gallery and display space

IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER, SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RETAIL BASE• Try again to organise country or farmers market on

regular basis to draw people into town• Organise series of festivals and events, mainly on heritage

and historical theme but perhaps including a summer school with literary focus, to draw people into town

• Develop the night time economy and in this connection look at taxi provision to enable people travel into the town

• Improve appearance of Fermanagh Street by carrying out façade scheme as in Dungannon

IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER, SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RETAIL BASE• In short term, explore potential for using vacant property, other

than as commercial retail outlets, to add life to Fermanagh Street. Possibilities include:

Using one or two retail units as bases for community school to run mini-companies

Encouraging local community and voluntary groups to make use of vacant premises as operating bases or as shop windows to promote their achievements and services

Developing vacant pub as drop-in centre for young peopleFostering a Living Over The Shop initiative

IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER, SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

BROADENING THE RANGE OF SHOPS• Identifying the gaps e.g. clothing, drapery, shoes, sports, florist,

printer, phone shop• Comparing Clones with several towns of similar size and

contrasting the existing retail base to see where opportunities might exist

• Encouraging the creation of new businesses in areas such as antiques, collectables, memorabilia (especially GAA and boxing)

• Developing one or two units with residential and retail accommodation as dedicated space for artists or craft workers

• Attracting one or two quality second hand or charity shops

IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER, KEY SUGGESTED ACTIONS

SECURING UPTAKE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES• Organising an OPPORTUNITY CLONES event to stimulate

ideas generation and promote identified opportunities• Organising number of pop-up shops in conjunction with

owners of vacant property• Developing cluster of retail incubator units under the

auspices of the Regeneration Partnership, possibly in collaboration with Creighton Hotel

• Organising support programme of training and mentoring and ideally start-up funding for potential new businesses

COPING WITH THE CARSUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

• Improve signage to car parks for visitors• Make sure car parks are well lit• Explore potential for CCTV in car parks to deter

vandals and anti-social behaviour• Improve the warden scheme to reduce all day or

long stay parkers• Consider parking fees in some format• Make town more mobility friendly• Install cycle racks

CREATING A PRIDE OF PLACESUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

• Completion of park• Completion of projects at Canal Stores• Development of canal• Series of meetings between all key players to

secure maximum community engagement in the process of regeneration

CREATING & COMMUNICATING THE BRANDSUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

ATHY MODEL:• Development of corporate identity for town including

logo and guidelines for use

CREATING & COMMUNICATING THE BRANDSUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS

• Colours• Type size• Fonts• Photography• Online• Signage