New RV Park Will Be A "Gamechanger" For New Ross - Fleming

The head of the New Ross Municipal District says a new RV park for the area will be a gamechanger.

Planning is due to be submitted for the 23 bay motorhome parking facility at Marshmeadows early next year.

The application is a little off schedule as a Natura Impact Statement is due to be carried out on the proposed site in August.

Chairman of the district Councillor John Fleming says the park will open up tourism for the town:

"They want more consultation on flood defences and stuff like that so that's been delayed but it will be a huge gamechanger.

"What happens is, the sailings in Rosslare go out late so people are coming to New Ross to get ready for the boat and when they arrive early in the morning, people don't want to drive so they can stay in New Ross.

"We can catch tourists both ways, late at night and in the morning."

Councillor Fleming says he would also like to see an enhanced farmers market in the centre of town to attract more visitors as well.

Currently the New Ross Country Market is held on Friday mornings at the New Ross Rugby Club which is located in the Southknock area.

Chairman Fleming says re-locating this closer to the quays would be more beneficial for everyone involved.

"(You could have it at) Brennan's Lane maybe which is a goregous place at the moment.

"We should have a market maybe, a farmer's market or something like that to bring people into the centre of town because we want to see more footfall in the centre of town."

Another exciting project which is due to get underway is the redevelopment of the Michael Murphy/Bank of Ireland building on the quay.

There are plans to turn the vacant properties into a Norman visitor centre in time for next year's European Year of the Normans.

Councillor Fleming says this should be done as soon as possible.

"That's about 35/40 thousand square foot and we're trying to get funding in place so that will start early next year."

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.