Some ideas about developing the future retail sector in Clones

1. CLONES TOWN CENTRE
REGENERATION
A DRAFT ACTION PLAN

2. THE VISION FOR THE TOWN CENTRE
• Buzzing with a mix of sustainable retail outlets
• No empty shops
• Environment which optimises the town’s
history and heritage
• Renowned as a town of history and heritage
• Welcoming, friendly, accessible, entertaining

3. STRATEGIC THEMES FOR ACTION
• IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER
• COPING WITH THE CAR
• CREATING A PRIDE OF PLACE
• CREATING AND COMMUNICATING THE BRAND

4. IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER,
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RETAIL BASE
• Organise retail support programme including training and
mentoring
• Provide scheme to assist businesses improve shop fronts
or refurbish premises
• Develop scheme such as Shop LK organised by
Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce which has seen €1
million of additional sales generated in two years
• Develop the Market House as a special attraction to draw
people into the town – include public toilets, tourist
office, gallery and display space

5. IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER,
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RETAIL BASE
• Try again to organise country or farmers market on
regular basis to draw people into town
• Organise series of festivals and events, mainly on
heritage and historical theme but perhaps including a
summer school with literary focus, to draw people into
town
• Develop the night time economy and in this connection
look at taxi provision to enable people travel into the
town
• Improve appearance of Fermanagh Street by carrying out
façade scheme as in Dungannon

6. IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER,
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
MAINTAINING THE EXISTING RETAIL BASE
• In short term, explore potential for using vacant property,
other than as commercial retail outlets, to add life to
Fermanagh Street. Possibilities include:
Using one or two retail units as bases for community
school to run mini-companies
Encouraging local community and voluntary groups to
make use of vacant premises as operating bases or as
shop windows to promote their achievements and
services
Developing vacant pub as drop-in centre for young
people
Fostering a Living Over The Shop initiative

7. IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER,
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
BROADENING THE RANGE OF SHOPS
• Identifying the gaps e.g. clothing, drapery, shoes, sports,
florist, printer, phone shop
• Comparing Clones with several towns of similar size and
contrasting the existing retail base to see where
opportunities might exist
• Encouraging the creation of new businesses in areas such
as antiques, collectables, memorabilia (especially GAA and
boxing)
• Developing one or two units with residential and retail
accommodation as dedicated space for artists or craft
workers
• Attracting one or two quality second hand or charity shops

8. IMPROVING THE SHOPPING OFFER,
KEY SUGGESTED ACTIONS
SECURING UPTAKE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES
• Organising an OPPORTUNITY CLONES event to stimulate
ideas generation and promote identified opportunities
• Organising number of pop-up shops in conjunction with
owners of vacant property
• Developing cluster of retail incubator units under the
auspices of the Regeneration Partnership, possibly in
collaboration with Creighton Hotel
• Organising support programme of training and
mentoring and ideally start-up funding for potential new
businesses

9. COPING WITH THE CAR
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
• Improve signage to car parks for visitors
• Make sure car parks are well lit
• Explore potential for CCTV in car parks to deter
vandals and anti-social behaviour
• Improve the warden scheme to reduce all day or
long stay parkers
• Consider parking fees in some format
• Make town more mobility friendly
• Install cycle racks

10. CREATING A PRIDE OF PLACE
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
• Completion of park
• Completion of projects at Canal Stores
• Development of canal
• Series of meetings between all key players to
secure maximum community engagement in
the process of regeneration

11. CREATING & COMMUNICATING THE BRAND
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
ATHY MODEL:
• Development of corporate identity for town
including logo and guidelines for use

12. CREATING & COMMUNICATING THE BRAND
SUGGESTED KEY ACTIONS
• Colours
• Type size
• Fonts
• Photography
• Online
• Signage