Shaping
our future - will it work?
From BELFAST TELEGRAPH December 11th, 1998
The paper is meant to "provide long- term direction" which "takes account
of . . . international forces . . ." In the wake of recent disasters such
as the recent hurricane in Honduras, one might have expected a reference
to a number of international treaties on the environment: Rio in 1992, Kyoto
in 1996, and now Buenos Aires. These asked all governments to reduce the
excessive amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. The report
says not a word. It does say we must "help to combat adverse effects on
the global climate by reducing combustion gases" without saying how, and
then goes on to argue for a "composite Belfast- Dublin motorway" and other
parts of the "Chancellor's initiative", fly-overs and other nonsense on
the Westlink, which will increase these emissions.
Such contradictions are typical of the report. It asks us to reduce "the
consumption of natural resources" and "to control slurry spills, etc in
lakes and rivers" without asking why, for example, current "world-wide trends
of more intensive farming methods" cause so much pollution.
Similarly, it wants to "promote the exploitation of renewable sources of
energy", yet the Government is building the Scottish and maybe "cross-border"
inter- connectors. It complains of "growing numbers of septic tanks" and
wants to ensure the "treatment of sewage from all new development meets
environmentally acceptable standards", yet surely such standards should
use that sewage as a renewable energy source!
As our last example, we turn to land. The report wants to stop developers
using "the relatively easier greenfield option", but it is bereft of ideas
as to how this might happen.' 'An opportunity for all to work together'
By Clyde Markwell, President of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects THE
RSUA welcomes the publication of the Draft Regional Strategic Framework.
The document provides an overarching planning strategy for the next 25 years.
Within the framework the details will be provided by re-drafted area plans.
For the first time planning has been envisaged not only within a complete
Northern Ireland context, but also with a European context. The strategy
aims to contain the development of Belfast and encourage growth in a number
of regional towns. These will be linked by communication corridors.
The framework offers the chance to re-structure and re-build our society.
This poses a challenge to architects and provides them with a wonderful
opportunity. The RSUA strives to promote the quality of life through the
enhancement of the built environment. We work to this end by promoting quality
in the design of new architecture and by ensuring that good architecture
from the past is given a viable future. The framework provides a mechanism
to help us achieve these goals. We welcome the proposals to revitalise town
centres and to develop "brown field" sites in built up areas.
Such developments should be for mixed use, containing housing and other
community facilities. The restriction of development in the countryside
is also welcomed. We recognise the need for diversification. We have a responsibility
to work with our clients to find alternative uses for the countryside which
complement and enhance the environment, rather than detract from it. The
creation of a quality environment is not the responsibility of architects
alone.
We consider it a partnership between ourselves, the Planning Authorities
and the general public. The framework provides an opportunity for all to
work together to create a better environment and standard of living for
all our citizens. More questions than answers By Eamonn McCann APPROVAL
for most of the framework's proposals will be near enough unanimous in the
North West.
It could hardly be otherwise. The document is largely aspirational and many
here have long harboured aspirations along the same lines. The problem is
that the document is not so much vague as silent about how the plans are
to be paid for and what effect new methods of financing might have on services
and on other aspects of local life. |
