Ireland up to the mid-nineties had an ecological footprint less than its own land area. Despite the low population increase, within less than 10 years Ireland’s ecological footprint is now greater than 7 times its own land area. This is totally unsustainable, environmentally degrading and causes an unsustainable increase in rubbish and waste accumulation
There is a need to reduce the numbers of supermarkets in the county, or at least not allow anymore to be build. Local businesses suffer as some of their products can be sold cheaper in large-scale supermarkets.
Town and village centres are being abandoned by commercial businesses, leading to an increase in travel to shops in banal shopping centres for what should actually be locally available, such as book, music, jewellery, bakery, shoe and clothing shops, etc.
➢ Thus, town/_village centres should be given priority for local businesses over supermarket/shopping centre developments
➢ Town centres need to be rejuvenated
➢ Any historical street scape to be upheld to create a sense of community and belonging, of pride and interaction
➢ Emphasis should be place on making space available for local produce, local enterprises
➢ Weekly and monthly markets should be allowed in every town and village
➢ Special markets/events to be held, such food festivals, book markets, etc.
➢ Local crafts people, community gardens& farms and local food producers should be encouraged to participate with appropriate incentives into retail sales
➢ Local restaurants & cafes, and any hospitality enterprise should be rewarded for buying as much as possible from their locality, or at least within Kildare county as part of the social and green procurement remits
➢ Plastic and drinking cans return schemes should be in every town and village to reduce rubbish being thrown away carelessly into the country side and water courses
➢ Recycling centres need to be established in every major town/village to encourage recycling and at the same time reduce horrendous fly-tipping
➢ That Sustainable use of textiles in the region be researched and the toxins in microplastic of households and council use of fabrics be researched
That KCC pioneer a House Of Brigid retail solution to support Kildare talent with authentic , locally made goods , consider a pop up store for national and also international showcasing of Authentic artisanal Kildare made goods