Galway's waterways and one of the city's longest-established residential areas are being systematically destroyed by the absence of an area action plan, according to the former arts minister and Labour TD, Mr Michael D. Higgins.
Commenting on a recent report in this column on planning developments - and breaches of same - in the area, the Galway West TD said that those who were aware of, and valued, the importance to the industrial history and archaeology of the water system must be appalled at "this final phase of colonisation".
"Since the first obligations to have a development plan were established, there has been a request for, and indeed at times a commitment has been made to, an action area plan for the west," he said.
This extends from Dominick Street to Sea Road, Pal ymyra, back through Parkaveere and including Canal Road, New Road, Henry Street and environs.
"The answer was always the same: funding would be sought for a special study," Mr Higgins said.
"Over 18 years on the corporation I and others raised the need to see the area as a whole, with integrated planning for its housing and its social charac teristics."
In 1997 as minister for arts, culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins allocated some 126,000 euro (£100,000) for repair of the Parkaveera lock and restoration of the stonework on the Eglinton Canal.
"Every year since I have been told the work will be completed next September. That was Minister of State Eamon O Cuiv's answer in the Dáil about three years ago," he said.
Instead, the entire area was "being gutted with separate developments, all out of scale to existing structures, destructive of streetscapes, and it would appear that there is serious encroachment on the towpaths of the canal itself."
Galway City Council had to make its mind up as to whether it would continue to decide each planning application in the area separately, or commit itself to area planning, with full participation and open, accessible architectural advice on streetscapes and history, "before all is lost".