Thank you for providing the opportunity to comment on this plan. It is clear that the document has been well thought out in seeking to spark responses and debate.
I have sought to focus my comments on certain key areas and also being considerate that we may be about to enter a fiscally difficult time when large scale expense may be more difficult.
A key message I would like to deliver is the importance of tone from the top, by the City Council and its CEO, should not be underestimated. The messaging to Cork’s citizen’s about the value and respect we place in our buildings, public realms and its inhabitants is key. This extends to commuters in particular - we have to date, in my view, been too focused on car users at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists. I would hope that the messages in this regard can be become more balanced and progressive in the future.
I expect many responses will reference the pandemic which we are currently experiencing. Whilst we all hope this is temporary, the lessons it is teaching us about the importance of our city, outdoor spaces, healthy living and our shared community will hopefully live on. We can take the positive out of the situation and seek to build a better city for both its current and future inhabitants.