Suggestions for moving forward with SuirCan The comments I make below are in the context of my experience working as an environmental professional, where I deal with local authorities, landowners, agencies such as the fisheries boards and National Parks & Wildlife Service, and communities. In carrying out my work, I have to take account of legislation, factually-based evidence, government and agency policies, and best environmental practice. I appreciate that the group that has gathered in relation to SuirCan has a passion about trying to achieve something, and I feel that this is more likely to be successful if care is taken to get the right groundwork laid. Similarly, I am used to having to put my personal feelings to one side and so my comments below are not to be taken personally, but as what I feel might be useful in achieving something for Suir Island and the Suir in general. If I can take the first point: achieve a cohesion of vision and purpose that would enable us to empower ourselves with a strong and convincing voice - that is a great aim and will take a bit of time to work out. I suggest that ‘pestering’ the Borough Engineer is not going to result in anyone being seen as a strong and convincing voice, unless there is a valid point to be made. In relation to the part of the island that the council is developing as a temporary car-park (reported in the Nationalist on 4th October), I had a look at (i) Draft Clonmel & Environs Development Plan 2008 (Jan 2007) and proposed amendments to same (Sept. 2007), both available on council website; (ii) archaeology.ie website for records of sites and monuments; (iii) npws.ie website for site boundary of the River Suir Special Area of Conservation. I couldn’t find a copy of the flood relief EIS anywhere online so I’m going on memory on what they propose on the island. As far as I can see from my quick look at the above:-there are no protected structures or monuments affected by the works; -the River Suir SAC is not directly affected;-trees with tree preservation order on them seem to be unaffected;-the lands are subject to a special zoning in a list of disused areas with potential for commercial development;and from memory – the OPW will be building an earth embankment further down the island, which along with proposed walls etc. is intended to protect the entire area around Hughes’ Mills over to the Kingdom Hall from flooding. Whatever about how this is actually carried out, as far as I know the works are approved as of last year or the year before, following the public consultation. There may be a requirement for monitoring by National Parks & Wildlife Service where the works are in or along the SAC, which would include the trees along the riverbank. I’m not a planner so I don’t know whether they need or have planning permission for the car-park; I can find nothing about it on the e-plan system on the council website. To be devil’s advocate on this one, they can quite legitimately say ‘what’s the problem?’. At the moment it doesn’t look very pretty, but that isn’t a good reason for reacting to it. To draw it together a little, I compiled the following SWOT analysis. There are probably quite a few things missing.
Strengths |
Weaknesses |
| Part of island as well as the entire river channel is protected for nature conservation; protected structures and trees present on the island also. | Government and other agencies can seem opaque if you don’t know where to go for information on conservation, policies etc. |
| Policy in Draft Clonmel plan re. River Suir Amenity area | Need to mobilise communites along the river to ensure best outcome for Suir Amenity area. |
| Presence of new Arts Officer, officer with responsibility for Heritage, and Environmental Awareness officer in County Council. | |
| Opportunities for Suir Island | Threats to Suir Island |
|
People parking on the island and walking to town – less cars in town centre |
Damage to old structures, trees, habitats |
|
People who might never have been in this part of town may ‘notice’ the island for the first time |
Piecemeal incursion of development into the island |
|
Provision of flood relief berm could be incorporated into the story of the island |
Provision of flood relief berm will visually divide the island |
| Opportunities for SuirCan | Threats to SuirCan |
|
Potential to work with the Council in this public space to improve awareness of the heritage of the island |
Wrong approach could lead to being seen as a reactionary and difficult group, thereby reducing dialogue and funding opportunities |
|
Improved access to the island |
|
|
Create positive image of the group and lay groundwork for the future, if more serious issues arise. |
Weighing up the SWOT above, I would like to contribute the following as a possible way forward.
· Talk to the Arts Officer and officer with responsibility for Heritage, and see if the ideas for projects can be incorporated into the car-park, in association with the council. As I understand it from the media, the car park is being done quickly as part of the plan to market Clonmel as a Christmas shopping town (there is also a plan in the pipeline by Clonmel Chamber to get a portable ice-rink into the town for Christmas). This could be a great opportunity for the group to piggy-back on the opening-up of this area and help achieve critical mass in bringing life to Clonmel town centre.
· What about a ‘park’n’ride’ day, where people would bring their bikes (in the car if they have to) and cycle into town. Maybe the bike shops would get in on the act?
· Are there any other opportunities for the other units in Hughes Mills to get involved (Suds n Surf?). Clonmel Chamber?
· The old walls around the car park could provide a backdrop or easel for display of projects.
· Maybe Mr. Binman would sponsor or help out with something, the Environmental Awareness Officer could help here – something on the theme of sustainability, re-use/recycle etc. could be incorporated, a bit like what was done with the hubcaps on the banners during the Junction.
· Do a schools project on the wildlife and heritage of the island and display it around the walls of the car park.
To summarise, for what it’s worth, I think a positive approach has a great chance of achieving a good outcome for the island and all its heritage, instead of seeing the ‘powers that be’ as a barrier. I won’t pretend it will be easy or quick, but it might be the better long-term approach. I also think that achieving something positive would help the group to come together and counteract the ‘weariness and frustration’ that you mention. It is very difficult and energy-sapping to keep people on board with a ‘negative’ campaign. It is possible to challenge the status-quo while working within it.
