Sir, It was good to see the letter from Michael Gorman (May 26th) concerning, among other things. the recent building boom in Galway city. We would like to challenge the notion that these "developments" are initiated by "developers" full of civic spirit, whose primary aim is to provide housing, jobs, and a brighter future for everyone.
The intention behind the designated areas scheme - to rebuild and bring life back to the inner cities - was excellent. However, over the past five years or so we have witnessed the mushrooming of apartment blocks in the medieval centre of the city. In most cases the architects have made little effort to harmonise these blocks with local building styles or to use traditional building materials.
Planning laws seem either to be totally inadequate or to have been circumvented. We have been informed, for example, that the explanation for the proliferation of nonfunctional balconies is that, for the purposes of planning per mission, their areas are added up to be counted as the "open spaces" stipulated in planning directives.
Moreover, these apartments are far too expensive and far too small for young families. They are frequently bought en bloc by property investors and let at exorbitant rents. Others are purpose built holiday apartments. Due to the scramble for building sites there are hardly any green spaces left within the city boundaries and those which are left are under threat
Galway is fast becoming a city which is inhospitable to its own citizens, to the elderly, teenagers and children in particular. It has a large young population, yet its very few playgrounds are in a disgraceful state. The public library has to make do on half of what its budget was in the early 1980s. The 9ost of the public swimming pool is prohibitive.
There is little provision by the corporation for teenagers, as regards adequate sports centres, clubs or meeting places. Instead, teenagers are often dismissed as a nuisance or as a potential threat to public order. If we are to foster any sense of responsibility in young people, we must show them that they are valued and their needs are considered.
Senior citizens also feel that they have nowhere to go any more. Huge drinking barns and shopping malls have replaced the traditional meeting places of local shops and pubs. Old people who are not property owners come under pressure from escalating rents.
If we continue to allow property investors to be given sole priority and the needs of citizens to be ignored, we will make our cities ugly and inhumane. Instead of living communities we will have business parks and tourist resorts. Much of what is happening at the moment in the name of development is destructive both of cityscape and community.
We are currently witnessing in Ireland a shift from a predominantly rural to an increasingly urban society. We want to call on planning authorities to give their attention to the monitoring of new buildings in our cities. It is the responsibility of town planners to guide urban development primarily with a view to benefiting the people who employ them. - Yours, etc.,
Henry Street,
Galway.