Wildly modern, iconic, beautiful…

A recent visit to Dublin included a visit to the new Grand Canal Square and Theatre. This new district was beautiful, elegant, functional and a jewel in Dublin’s crown. It’s a stones throw away from the also new, and opening in September, National Convention Centre accessed by the Samuel Beckett Bridge opened a year ago. These wildly modern, iconic, large scale developments sit well with their more established neighbours along the quays and into the docklands and outline a progressive, open vision of a confident city.

With plans on the table for development in Galway of both Ceannt Station and our own docklands what sort of vision do we want for Galway? Do we want to raise the bar with modern, iconic statement co-existing with our city’s built heritage or do we want to play it safe…Most of us don’t get the opportunity to shape our city’s future, or at least we think we don’t. However, there are certain opportunities for the public to have input and to make our views known.

The Draft City Development Plan 2011 – 2017 has been on public display since early February. Submissions may be made until next Wednesday. The City Development Plan is an important document which will affect our city for the next six years. It will affect us in areas such as zoning, amenities, renewal and development, water, sewage, waste, accommodation services and other services to the community. Its basically a blueprint for the planning and development of Galway city for the next six years. You can read the Draft by logging onto the Galway City Council website on www.galwaycity.ie

Submissions or observations may be made to the Draft City Development Plan in writing up to Wednesday 21st of April at 16.00 hours. These submissions may be made to the Senior Planner, Planning Department, City Hall or by email to the same closing date and time to devplan@galwaycity.ie All submissions should be marked Draft Galway City Development Plan and should state the name of the person making the submission and where relevant the organisation or body represented.