Madam, - I refer to a number of articles in The Irish Times recently on the Dublin City Manager's proposals to delist 500 buildings from the Record of Protected Structures and the most recent decision by the assistant manager, Mr Sean Carey, to postpone delisting these properties until the end of the year so that a review of the legislation can take place (The Irish Times, September 22nd).
It is worth pointing out why a building should be a protected structure. It is too simple to suggest that it is exclusively a matter of architectural terms alone. The Planning and Development Act 2000 clearly sets down the parameters for designating a protected structure which can fall into one of the following criteria : architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
I know the city manager and planners believe that the deletion of buildings is necessary to ensure the record conforms to the requirements of new planning legislation. However, I believe they are not correct in their interpretation of the legislation as set down in the Planning and Development Act.
For the planners now to say they are considering delisting many of these buildings because they "do not have the necessary special characteristics which would merit their continued inclusion in the record", when given the broad criteria as set out above, is an attempt to undermine their current status - which surely must be a credible one.
Travel all over Europe and you will see fantastic examples of historical and heritage buildings and sites being developed in an extremely sensitive way for tourism and the needs of future generations. The city and county of Dublin need to take the lead in this regard. We have lost too much of our unique heritage through excessive and inappropriate development. We can make progress and develop our city and at the same time use these buildings and sites so as to protect their past and ensure their future for generations to come. - Yours, etc.,
VICTOR BOYHAN,
Grange Crescent,
Kill o'the Grange,
Co Dublin.