Lack of educational facilities could stunt future growth in Newtownmountkennedy

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The Newtownmountkennedy Town Centre First Plan has acknowledged future growth in the town could be challenging without a proper secondary school for children living in the area.

The Town Centre First policy was launched by the government in 2022 to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and to transform town centres into more attractive spaces for people to live, work, and visit, while also serving as hubs for services, social, cultural, and recreational activities.

The plan is being delivered by social enterprise ACT on behalf of Wicklow County Council, in collaboration with the Newtownmountkennedy Town Team and a wide range of local stakeholders.

The Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre welcomed a group of residents, local business owners and community representatives for a collaborative workshop earlier this week, where participants shared the views and ideas of a vision for the town over the next 25 years out to 2050.

Land was zoned for community and education purposes as part of the local area plan for the town as far back as 2002, with the expectation it would be used to build a secondary school for the growing population in the wider area, but there has been no movement from the department over the past two decades.

Among the other challenges highlighted by the consultants include the lack of doctors, dentists and mental health services. There are no civic spaces or library services, and the garda station is only staffed on a part time basis.

Calls have been made to consider improving public transport links, foster growth in local retail and hospitality, provide a gateway to Wicklow Mountains and the sea while promoting the town as a place to experience nature.

Cllr Danny Alvey, who lives locally in Newtown and is a member of Newtown Tidy Towns was in attendance and said it was inspiring to see so many local voices come together with a shared passion for Newtownmountkennedy.

“This is exactly what community-led planning should look like—collaborative, creative, and rooted in local experience.”

Wicklow County Council chief executive Emer O’Gorman said the plan is a vital step in empowering the people of Newtownmountkennedy to shape their town’s future.

“The council is proud to support a process that puts the community at the heart of local development.”

The third and final workshop in this series, ‘Pathways to Delivery’, is scheduled for Monday, September 29, from 6-8pm, at the Newtownmountkennedy Community Centre.