Sir, – I refer to recent letters (July 15th) in relation to the building of a city centre bridge and streetscape in Kilkenny as part of the Central Access Scheme.
Local authorities in Kilkenny have over the last 40 years carefully managed the historic fabric of the city, balancing necessary renewal and development with preserving Kilkenny’s important heritage.
Kilkenny is an important tourist and business hub and from time to time new infrastructure is necessary.
Just as the Normans and Victorians needed bridges over the river Nore, the current generation needs a new one too to allow the regeneration of empty sites in the heart of the city, whilst conserving the city’s historic core.
This new bridge is essential for the vitality, consolidation and growth of the city centre of Kilkenny and the existing two bridges are inadequate for current needs, particularly the historic Greens Bridge.
The proposed Central Access Scheme will pass through former livestock yards, across the river Nore with a new bridge, across industrial lands at Smithwick’s brewery and rejoin the existing street network at Vicar Street.
We understand the concerns expressed about the houses on Vicar Street and that is why we had them rigorously surveyed from an architectural and archaeological perspective, finding only very local aspects of interest.
Appropriate processes with An Bord Pleanála and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht have been and are being followed. – Yours, etc,
Cllr MARTIN BRETT,
Mayor of Kilkenny,
City Hall,
High Street,
Kilkenny.