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Waterford City Council are in the process of formulating the new City Development Plan for 2013-2019 and are inviting businesses to contribute through consultation and submissions. The City Council has published a Draft Issues and Options Paper, which is a high-end, non-technical look at the core issues that will be part of the 1st draft of the City Development Plan which will be ready in April 2012.
The City Council is inviting submissions to this Draft Issues and Options Paper, with a deadline of 5th August 2011. Businesses can still engage and make further submissions throughout the whole process of completing the City Development Plan after this initial submissions deadline date. Submissions can be emailed to
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or posted to Colette Byrne, Ref: City Development Plan, Waterford City Council, The Mall, Waterford.
The 2013 to 2019 Waterford City Development Plan is open for submissions and Waterford Chamber are encouraging businesses to get involved in shaping the economic future of the city by making submissions to the plan.
Colette Byrne, Director of Services, Planning and Environment unveiled the Issues & Options Paper at a Waterford Chamber event at Dooley’s Hotel on Wednesday, July 27. The presentation focused on a number of key issues facing Waterford going forward. Waterford’s status as a Gateway City for the region was highlighted as being underdeveloped. Economic performance and the high levels of unemployment in the City are also matters that require to be addressed in the 2013-2019 Plan. There was significant discussion around the Retail experience in the City as well as the vibrancy of the City Centre. Access to good quality education especially University designation for the region where only 13% of the population have attained third level as opposed to the national average of 16% were also highlighted as critical for the 2013-2019 Plan. While many of the City’s infrastructural needs such as roads, water and waste water, are now in place other issues such as waste management, renewable energy sources and broadband all need to be factored into future strategic plans for the City. Social and Community Facilities and Services, Architectural and Archaeological Heritage and the Environment were also highlighted as being of strategic importance to Waterford.
Commenting on the Waterford City Development Plan Waterford Chamber President Anne Marie Caulfield said, “The Waterford City Development Plan is something which all businesses in the city need to take ownership of and help to shape. The Plan will be the key strategic driver for the economic, social and cultural development of our City to 2019 and I would encourage everyone to log onto the Waterford City Council website waterfordcity.ie and read the plan and make their submissions to it. Chamber is currently working a submission for this initial consultation phase and intends to participate fully in how best to secure the economic development and prosperity of our City going forward, the consultation process presents a great opportunity to help shape the future of business in the City. ”
There is a growing sense of pride and identity amongst Waterford people particularly in light of recent success such as the Tall Ships. Questions as to how can we further develop this idea, this notion, this sense of a shared future must be addressed in any strategic plan going forward? Waterford is a city proud of its heritage and history. We must plan so as to protect that which is good while planning simultaneously for growth and economic development. If we fail to grow and create wealth we will not have the resources to protect our heritage and that which makes Waterford what it is. |
