Facelift for Cootehill

More than 20 buildings and businesses across Cootehill town have signed up to have their facades repainted under funding secured for the town under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

The aim of the scheme is to fund improvements, which will enhance towns and villages as attractive places in which to live and work.

Work on painting in Cootehill is expected to begin in the next fortnight.

“We have 20 business that have consented, it’s great news,” welcomed Tidy Towns Committee member Philomena McQuaid.

This is phase one of the facade uplift plan being rolled out by the Tidy Towns, who are also set to install new hanging flower basket poles the length of Cootehill’s Market Street. The poles will be installed later this year and the baskets after that.

“It’s about freshening up the town, making it look vibrant and welcoming for visitors,” said Philomena.

Community garden

She adds that the Town Team is still very focused on delivering their community garden project on a portion of disused ground to the rear of St Michael’s Hall.

The project was ready to launch last year until it was delayed by Covid. The time lost has eaten into the four-year-and-nine-month lease signed with the local parish council, but the Town Team is confident this can be renewed.

Already a polytunnel has been erected on the site, which is centred around a majestic oak tree.

The garden, once developed, will provide a unique and centrally located public amenity space that can be utilised by all including local schools, the healthcare centre, and those attending Drumlin House.

An initial wish-list set out the objectives that the garden will be pollinator friendly, off grid, include bird boxes and have a rainwater harvesting facility.

Even with all that envisaged, Philomena says there is still scope for more input from the community. “Even in the development of the garden, we’d like to have more feedback. This is very much a shared space, a community space, welcoming to all,” she adds.