Sir, - Now that the appalling plan for Spencer Dock has been refused permission, there is an opportunity to create Dublin's version of the Lincoln Centre in New York and the arts area by the Thames in London, by combining some suggestions already made. As well as a conference centre with a hotel behind it, we could have an opera house, the Abbey and Peacock Theatres, a sculpture park, an art-house cinema, a jazz club and an interactive museum of Irish culture to which many existing specialist organisations could contribute (including The Writers' Centre, the Hotpress Hall of Fame, the Irish Traditional Music Archive, the National Gallery, the Hugh Lane Gallery etc.).
Apartments and office blocks can be built anywhere in the greater docks area, so why not avail of this opportunity to create an identity for Spencer Dock? In the long-term, tourism will fund it. - Yours etc.,
Keith Donald, Rockbrook, Dublin 16.