Using the old proverb 'take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves' comes to mind when I wander around Cork City. It has the potential to be a wonderfully vibrant city with an attrctive and inclusive built heritage. But it would appear that the basics are missing. Cleanliness, care of existing buildings and user friendly infrastructure are the basis on which any successful city is built. However, when walking through Cork there is an underlying sense of neglect and lack of care. This is compounded by a feeling that city maintenance is driven by fear of litigation and cost saving.
Broken footpaths, great swaths of cobbling replaced with tarmacadam and the lack of powerhosing on the streets are some of the issues that contribute to a sense of neglect. Instigating a good repair and maintenance plan for the ordinary everyday built structure throughout the city would contribute greatly to the general appearance of the city in the immediate future.
The positioning of Gloria Jeans on Grand Parade between Bishop Lucey Park and the beautiful English Market Gates remains a mystery. Sitting in Bishop Lucey Park looking across at the varied and brightly painted buildings flanking the beautiful English Market Gates is picture postcard Ireland but is now obliterated by an unattractive Gloria Jean booth. The toilets further down Grand Parade are a poorly maintained obstruction on a wide and airy walk and skateway. The new railing along Popes Quay, although safeguarding walkers, is an ugly and quick fix addition to the quay side. A proliferation of signposting on a myriad of poles swamp the streets contributing to clutter, both visually and physically, in all of the main streets. Although all of these serve a valuable purpose there appears to be a lack sensitivity in the planning and construction stage.
North, South and Castle streets are poised to be Corks pedestrianised centre. They naturally lend themselves to walking being narrow, interesting and leading to Shandon and the Firkin Crane. There are 26 quays in Cork with just one or two recognised for their value as lunch spots or valauble seating areas along the main river.
These are just some examples that contribute to a sense of neglect for the city as it is now. There is a distinct sense that Cork is waiting for some major investment to transform it into a bright new city when in fact the bright new city will emerge from the bones of the age old city. This is way it should be. The old confidently supporting the new. The challenge is to recognise and appreciate the value and beauty in the old when planning the new.