Shaping
our future - will it work?
From BELFAST TELEGRAPH December 11th, 1998
THIS week the DoE published the framework planning document, Shaping our
Future, which envisages development in Northern Ireland in the year 2025.
Today four commentators give their answers. Ulster's third city set to come
of age By Trevor Heaney Chief Executive, Craigavon Borough Council CRAIGAVON
has the location, the space, and the infrastructure. We are delighted that
this is now recognised outside of the borough as it reinforces what we ourselves
see everyday on our doorsteps. Craigavon is growing naturally.
Evidence of growth and development can be seen throughout the area. We are
the second largest industrial centre in the region and are a major service
centre in mid-Ulster and yet we still have land ripe for development. We
are, however, rather surprised at the relatively low housing growth earmarked
for the Craigavon area.
If, as the regional strategy highlights, we are the third city outside of
Belfast and Londonderry, we would have expected a much higher number than
that of 4,950 dwellings. We have extensive shopping and retail outlets.
Our recreational and leisure facilities are so good we are winning tourism
awards.
We have a large number of good schools, and one of the 'golden six' hospitals
so our quality of life is high. It is perplexing, therefore, that only 3,500
homes have been earmarked for the urban town and 1,450 for the rural areas.
We will be pushing for more housing development. The strategy also emphasises
the environment "a region of opportunity where people enjoy living and working
in a healthy environment".
We would very much share this vision and Craigavon Borough Council has been
working extensively with major employers here to make sure that the borough
remains pollution free. We are vigorously addressing waste management and
there is an increasing community interest in the conservation of natural
habitats.
Again our location on the southern shore of Lough Neagh gives us a distinct
advantage in that nature, as it were, is literally on our doorstep. Residents
also have the choice of how they travel.
We have one of the most extensive cycling or walking networks in Northern
Ireland. The external images of Craigavon are somewhat dominated by the
'New Town' and negative news stories, but these belie the reality of Craigavon.
Craigavon is now coming of age and we are ready to become the third city
of Northern Ireland.
Trevor Reaney, Chief Executive, Craigavon Borough Council. Mistakes look
set to continue By Peter Emerson, Green Party CENTRALISED planning is the
problem. Lots of qualified planners plan the lives of others and, every
so often, they produce reports and the latest is Shaping our Future. Like
other previous reports, it is designed to correct the mistakes of yet earlier
plans: high rise flats in the 60s; large housing estates with few facilities
of the 70s; inner-city motorways in the 80s; and, sadly, they look set to
continue.
And this report's mistake is its emphasis on corridors. But don't worry,
they'll produce another report in a few years' time and think of another
error. Some bits are good. They now want to reverse the mistake of excessive
urban development and out-of-town shopping centres; they accept that as
a society, too much priority is given to the motor car (although they don't
acknowledge their own guilt in this matter) and they suggest we look after
the environment, but they're not sure how. But now to a major criticism.
|
