Sir, - I have followed with increasing dismay the concerted response by Temple Bar Properties to Frank Me Donald's criticism of the dominant trend in Temple Bar towards a drinkled monoculture. As one of that rare breed of arts workers who also lives in Temple Bar, I welcome his intervention. Sometimes it is necessary to be one sided in order to draw due attention to a real problem, and to get a solution programmed. Few others were going on the record on the subject of Temple Bar's various mistakes, least of all temple Bar Properties.
As I understood Frank McDonald's article (April 21st), it was a call for honesty and openness by Temple Bat Properties in their own published evaluations of this unique urban development project. It is common knowledge that Temple Bar has experienced a major imbalance towards pubs, clubs and restaurants in pursuit of an objective of a "bustling cultural, residential and small business precinct that will attract visitors in significant numbers." So why isn't this, or any other problem, addressed in the Development Programme for Temple Bar to 1999, published last month by TBP?
Lauara Magahy asserts in your columns that TBP has "successfully achieved it objectives" and that the bustling precinct described above is "exactly what Temple Bar is today." The question she fails to consider is: "For how long?" She, and some of those who have written to you at her behest, acknowledge the problems of the area as if they had nothing to do with TBP, or were no longer any of its concern. If our public institutions are unwilling to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions or to engage in critical self evaluation, then someone should be appointed to do it for them.
In light of the current proposals to undertake major urban renewal programmes in both the greater Smithfield and Docklands areas of Dublin, I believe the time has come for the public funds which TBP spends on propaganda to be redirected towards an objective analysis of the Temple Bar project.
May I use your columns, there fore, to call on the Minister for the Environment to commission an independent report, involving public hearings for all interested parties, which can evaluate the entire Temple Bar renewal project, and to draw out the lessons for the future development of Dublin's inner city. In that context we can acknowledge the considerable successes of TBP. But let us also learn from our mistakes, not dent them. - Yours etc.
Bedford Row,
Dublin 2.