A proposal to develop facilities at Lough Key in a sensitive manner aims to attract more visitors.
The state forestry board Coillte plans to develop one of the country's largest forest parks at Lough Key in Boyle, County Roscommon.
Environmentalist and architect Duncan Stewart says the most important aspect of the development is that buildings will be designed to be hidden in the woodlands. There are plans for a visitor centre to be sunken into the contours of the landscape.
Lough Key is located on a site of over 400 hectares of forestry and parkland. To date it has been largely neglected as a public amenity and visitor numbers to the park have plummeted since the 1970s.
Facilities here were allowed to go into disrepair.
Under pressure from a local action group, the state forestry group Coillte now has new plans for the park. Duncan Stewart says that the plans require that the unique nature of the location is completely conserved.
The development includes plans for the construction of over 40 chalets, and a leisure and a visitor centre. Brian Nerney from the Boyle Chamber of Commerce believes that the development will bring back tourists to the region.
Coillte say that the Lough Key proposals require planning approval before the end of the year.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 November 1999. The reporter is Ciaran Mullooly.
