I want to add another consideration. A heritage/visitor centre will
work best if it is located in or beside the surviving heritage it
wants to promote (working as a professional historian, I have probably
visited more than my fair share of such centres!). There are very few,
if any, other suitable sites next to the heritage core in Tallaght
village that could be developed in this way. This site is ideally
placed to celebrate two huge aspects of Ireland's history, not just
Tallaght's: the Celtic monastic and the Norman-Irish. This is a chance
that may not come again.
The setting is important - take Dublinia in Dublin city centre for
example; it is greatly enhanced by the fact that it is right beside
Christchurch Cathedral in the heart of one fo the most historic areas
of the city. It wouldn't have nearly the same impact if it was
isolated among modern multi-storey apartments somehwere like the
docks.
We have an opportunity to create new amenities, greater diversity of
economic activity, new facilities for social, cultural, tourist,
educational use, and a way of showing off just a handful of Tallaght's
positives to the outside world. I want to see genuine development
here, with real pride in our past and real confidence in our future.
Somehow a few dozen more apartments doesn't inspire that sort of
feeling for me.
Let's keep the pressure on.
David
> ---------------------------------
Tara
On 27 Jan, 00:20, "David Hutchinson Edgar"
> > your Internet provider.- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -
I very much agree with the idea that a heritage centre/visitor centre/
plaza should be located on the Esso site for all the reasons that Tara
has outlined. Who would be responsible for making this happen and how
can we influence them to choose this option?
Who currently owns the Esso site - could they be prevailed upon to do
the right thing for the area - is there a possibility that the centre
could even be a privately owned venture with entrance charges, or a
state-private partnership?
Mary McColgan
It is the Development Dept in SDCC who act on behalf of the County
Manager to acquire and sell lands. The acquisition of this site is
totally possible and hinges on the appetite on both the councils and
the landowners side.
The site is still owned by Esso Ireland Ltd, and presumably they want
the highest price for it. It is a questin of how hard SDCC are
prepared to push to negotiate this purchase or before taking a CPO.
Personally I suspect the return will not be enough to tempt this
developer - tax incentives and apartments wil yield an immediate
return to him - a visitors centre is one with a slow return and which
is not driven by profit making alone.
Tara
On Jan 28, 7:27 pm, "Gerard Stockil" <gerard.stoc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have asked someone who has dealt with a previous planning application to
> get the contact of the legal people who represent Esso. If this is
> forthcoming, then TRCU could consider their own collective approach. Will
> let you know if I get the name of the legal people representing Esso.
>
> Best wishes
> Gerry
>
> On 28/01/07, MMC <marygmccol...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hi,
>
> > I very much agree with the idea that a heritage centre/visitor centre/
> > plaza should be located on the Esso site for all the reasons that Tara
> > has outlined. Who would be responsible for making this happen and how
> > can we influence them to choose this option?
>
> > Who currently owns the Esso site - could they be prevailed upon to do
> > the right thing for the area - is there a possibility that the centre
> > could even be a privately owned venture with entrance charges, or a
> > state-private partnership?
>
> > Mary McColgan--
> Gerard Stockil- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -