It will be next year before Roscommon County Council will know if it can go ahead with a major facelift of Ballaghaderreen town centre.
The local authority was given the green light to progress with the controversial plans for the town at a recent Boyle M.D meeting - despite a split in public opinion on the merits of the plan.
Earlier this year Roscommon County Council unveiled plans, estimated to cost around €3m, for a major facelift of Ballaghaderreen town centre.
The plan was to involve a new mini roundabout in the town, a one way system on Cathedral street and chapel street, as well as reduction in car parking spaces and other enhancement measures. .
A report, provided at the Boyle M.D meeting this month, revealed a total of 320 submission had been made on the project- with a strong difference of opinion among locals as to its merits.
A large number of submissions were in favour of the project, claiming that the plan would lead to greater footfall for the town and make the town a better place to live.
A 'Save Our Town' petition, signed by dozens of people, suggested that up to 72 car parking spaces were to be lost through the plan, and they were opposed to it.
However, the local authority claimed that just 37 spaces would be lost - and over 200 spaces were available within a short distance of the town centre.
The Part 8 proposal was adopted by the M.D, but it is expected that the project will not know if it has secured the required funding under the government Rural development funding until next summer as it has to go through lengthy process to be approved for funding.
