Council to spend €4m to develop town centre

A LOCAL council is to pump its financial reserves into rejuvenating a town centre in a planned economy-boosting measure.

Midleton Town Council is to invest over €4m in a three-year programme to reinvigorate the centre of the East Cork town.

The commitment was contained in the council’s 2012 budget which mayor Mary Woods described as “one of the best” plans she had seen during her time in local public life.

The figure includes a €1.4m capital development programme for the main street and a €100,000 grant scheme towards job creation in 2012, exclusive of €50,000 annual funding for various events and initiatives, largely to Midleton Marketing Partnership.

The budget allows for a gross expenditure of €2,448,900 in 2012. “If there is a failure or deterioration in commercial activity in Midleton, it will not be because of Midleton Town Council,” said town clerk Joe McCarthy.