Sir, - Recent research in the UK has shown that older suburbs are in danger of a rapid downhill slide, which could even turn them into tomorrow's slums. While Dublin's traffic problems are making housing in the older suburbs more attractive and adding to high prices in these areas, these suburbs also are facing challenges which, if not addressed, could lead to a real decline in the quality of life that attracted their original residents in the 1950s and 1960s.
For older people, these areas often lack suitable facilities, including smaller and sheltered accommodation. Elderly single and widowed people often wish to trade down, releasing housing for families and reducing high maintenance costs, but are understandably reluctant to leave a familiar neighbourhood.
Maintenance of footpaths, litter collection, children's play areas all seem very mundane but they have a real effect on quality of life if neglected.
Traffic chaos is increased because often bus routes which serve these suburbs feed into the city centre, instead of catering for outwards and sideways journeys. When did CIE or local councils last do a survey of travel needs? Even for work journeys, cross-suburb travel has increased enormously in recent years, not to mention the needs of young adults whose parents worry about their safe return from a night out as they travel home from one suburb to another.
As a result, the older suburbs suffer daily from noise, air pollution and accidents as traffic chaos from private cars invades their previously quiet streets.
We need to recognise that these older neighbourhoods have problems which must be addressed in a way which involves the local residents in a partnership with more effective local government. Our local councils have the powers to do more than just rezoning. At this election voters should ask the candidates what they propose to do to safeguard and improve the quality of life in Dublin's older suburbs, before it is too late. - Yours, etc., Margaret Mc Cluskey,
Cherrygarth, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.