Shaping
our future - will it work?
From BELFAST TELEGRAPH December 11th, 1998
On the positive side, the provision of a modern high-speed rail link between
Derry and Belfast would draw hearty sighs of relief from regular travellers
on the route. As things are, even the good nature of the staff can't make
the journey tolerable. A 'western transport corridor' from Derry through
Omagh and on to Dublin implies a new roadway between Derry and Strabane.
Patchy, episodic upgrading in recent years as a result of half-hearted funding
has made the road dangerously inconsistent. In bad conditions, some stretches
are among the scariest in Ireland. The North West's bad transport links
are symptomatic of official neglect and down- grading over the decades.
The framework's positive attitude will widely be seen as making up for lost
time. The focus on the cultural and artistic potential and the rich historical
heritage of the area - and not just to entice tourists is an acknowledgement
of elements of life which are of great importance to Derry people, as to
people everywhere, but which are rarely given more than a patronising nod
in planning documents. But, interestingly, there is already a controversy
simmering in the city about the location of the civic theatre where it backs
onto the Walls a tiny example of the sort of conflicts which will emerge,
even within particular strands, when and if the proposals are put into practice.
However, the major conflicts will arise all this is to assume that the framework
is adopted by the Assembly, which in turn is to assume that the Assembly
survives over the linked questions of funding, control and accountability.
"Partnership arrangements" means privatisation. Of what? Privately-owned
toll- roads? "More charges for public services". What services? "New methods
of raising regional finance". New taxes? On whom and what?
The Framework is enmeshed in the wider political and economic circumstances.
It sounds good for the North West. But it doesn't mean an end to conflict.
Instead, perhaps, a realignment towards more rational conflict. |
