on Wed, 13/03/2013 - 10:57am by PeterThomson Pl...
Kilkenny City is one of the most attractive large communities in Ireland. It values heritage and has a strong culture of sport, craftsmanship, theatre, art and retail excellence. It has developed critically important amenities and these include an excellent road and rail network, highly regarded institutes of education and high quality, easily accessible health care facilities. The availability of these amenities encourages foreign investment into the city and county and provides highly skilled, well paid employment for the local community.
The ability of Kilkenny City to attract and retain high performing individuals in key positions who can develop and enhance essential facilities and/ or catalyse substantial financial investment in the local community will in large part be determined by its ability to offer them suitable housing opportunities. Such individuals provide leadership, innovation, possess unique talents and have a proven track record of achievement in areas which are of substantial and enduring benefit to the city and county. Their services and expertise will be in demand elsewhere in the State and every effort should be made to afford them the opportunity to settle with their families in Kilkenny.
Kilkenny City has very limited stock of large detached family homes set in substantial grounds. In the past opportunities have arisen for such housing needs to be met by sourcing derelict houses on large sites around the city which can be refurbished or replaced under the current Development Plan rural housing policy. However these opportunities rarely arise.
Given the limited options to meet the housing needs of those referred to above, it is considered that the Development Plan could provide opportunities to assist in attracting and retaining high performing individuals . A further aspect of rural housing policy along the following lines could address the issue:
Within the area of development pressure around Kilkenny City a positive presumption will be given towards building single houses for occupation by applicants who can:
1.Demonstrate an essential requirement for ease of access to work and to live close to the named work place in the city;
2.Demonstrate that alternative housing options for the type and scale of housing sought have been examined and discounted (with reasons) elsewhere in and around the city;
3.Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses have benefited the social and economic fabric of the community and will accrue by retaining them into the future through the provision suitable housing.
4. Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses are in demand elsewhere in the state and/ or overseas.
Thank you for your comment. Has anyone else got any views on this subject?
Please note, as the 24th August 2012 was the cut-off for submissions to the pre-draft stage, we will consider this comment, and any other comments on this issue, during the next (Draft) phase of the process.
Submission To Kilkenny Borough Council
On Development of The Diageeo site
Proposal To Name some Kilkenny street after William or Christopher Colles possibly on the Diagio site.
Ecology and The River
The River Nore is a designated area of conservation largely due to the imminent extinction of the Nore Pearl Mussel. Early records tell us that in the medieval period Pearl mussels were being exploited from the Nore not too far north of the City .The Rivers ecology should be paramount in any redevelopment.
Rivers forgotten Industrial development That helped Shape The World
The Earliest to scale detailed map of Kilkenny city was commissioned by none other than John Roque, of London, in 1759. Appointed Cartographer to the Prince of Wales and the most Eminent Urban Cartographer of his time in both the New World of North America and the British Empire this map was commissioned by Lord Ponsonby who was a close associate of City Alderman and Mayor William Colles. William Colles the great industrial magnate was credited with being the first person to use water power to form and shape stone,since Roman Times, and was possibly the first person in Ireland to use steam engines in his industrial endeavours which made him one of the most innovative industrialists of his time. One of his stone cutting machines was recorded as being able to do the work of forty men.
William Colles was also the main proponent of the Nore Navigation which was being built at the time of Roque was mapping Kilkenny and on inspection of that map we can see the New Quay which it would appear was a Lock Linking the river with the Coal Market in what is now Parliament street. This lock would have served as a safe haven for Barges in times of Flood as they would be safe from the torrents of the Nore when in Flood. A Toll House would also have been situated here to charge barges on the New Canal soon to serve New Ross and the rest of the world. Its confluence with the river was between where the tea house and the Toll house are situated.
Recorded in the Cartouche of Roques map are the 3 principal commodities of Kilkennys Commerce. Coal ,Marble and Wool. The rich veins of anthracite from the Colleries of Castlecommer capable of firing the hottest furnaces, the abundance of wool being processed in many of the Rivers 40 mills and the Marble being produced for the first time on an industrial scale would make the Canal viable and Kilkenny and William Colles very prosperous.
Then in 1762 the unthinkable happened, a spring flood of huge proportions descended, every Bridge on the river Nore, except Ballyragget and Norelands were washed away , and the canal by now 3/4s built had to be abandoned as resources from the House of commons were diverted into rebuilding the Bridges .
William Colles nephew Christopher Colles the engineer and surveyor of the Canal project was made redundant and went to Limerick where he over saw the completion of the Shannon Navigation, and the building of the Limerick Customs House. Christopher then emigrated to New York and brought with him his knowledge of canal building and steam engines that he learned from his uncle William in Kilkenny and went on to build Americas first steam engine to supply the city of New York with its first mains water supply. He became the progenitor of Americas largest inland Navigation when he presented to the Governors of New York his survey of what became the Eyrie Canal. He produced and published the first road map and Atlas of North America and is also credited with inventing the first optical telegram.
Kilkenny never became the industrial inland hub of Ireland that Colles envisioned after the great flood and the abandonment of the canal. His industrial endeavours instead were directed into building and is evidenced today in Many of the fine Georgian buildings of Kilkenny City and County.
Let us not continue to forget Willaim Colles , not a street not a building is named after him only an obituary raised to him by his family and ensconced in the east Wall of St Marys Church.
Kilkenny now has an opportunity to resurrect and celebrate the memories of two great men from one Family. This could be done by recreating the New Quay to provide a safe haven for any pleasure Barges could then moor in The Nores flood relief scheme and provide alternative tours of the City and its heritage.
A street could be called after Christopher Colles Americas first Steam Engine Builder and the Toll house where he possibly worked from as surveyor and Engineer of the Canal could house replicas of his many inventions .
Thank you for a very interesting insight to the contribution of William Colles to the history of Kilkenny City & County. These points will be taken into account in the preparation of the urban design framework plan/masterplan for the Smithwick’s site.
Transfer of ownership of the Brewery site from Diageo to Kilkenny County Council presents a unique opportunity development opportuinity to the city of Kilkenny, indeed to the entire country.
A careful, historically respectful, people and environmentally friendly design and planning response is essential. In the near term at least, use of the site will also take place in a financially constrained context.
Development of the Diageo site should compliment and develop Kilkenny's existing strengths in arts, culture and heritage.
The use and development Diageo site should :
(1) Preserve and/or restore medieval street layouts
(2) Be branded as a new urban district within the city, focused on the arts, crafts, culture and heritage sectors, and including hubs for complimentary activities such as social enterprises.
(3) Include a substantial third level college presence. This should NOT be a "me too" activity ; there are already several other centres of excellence elsewhere in Ireland in domains such as information and communications technologies, bio-pharmaceuticals and the likes. The physical, historical and cultural context of the Diageo site (and of the city of Kilkenny as a whole) would make the site an ideal location for a college of performing arts, particularly one that could attract international students.
(4) Reuse the existing buildings on the site to the greatest practical extent.
(5) Be pedestrianised to the greatest possible extent.
(6) Provide greater public access to the river bank, including providing a pedestrian/cycling link under Green's bridge to the linear park.
(7) Faclitate increased amentiy use of the river, e.g. swimming and canoeing.
It is my belief that these objectives can (and should) be achieved without having to procede with the proposed Central Access Scheme.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
You will receive an acknowledgement email shortly. The issues raised will be summarised and addressed in the Manager's Report on Submissions to the Draft, which will be published this Autumn.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
Comments
Modification of rural housing policy around the City
Kilkenny City is one of the most attractive large communities in Ireland. It values heritage and has a strong culture of sport, craftsmanship, theatre, art and retail excellence. It has developed critically important amenities and these include an excellent road and rail network, highly regarded institutes of education and high quality, easily accessible health care facilities. The availability of these amenities encourages foreign investment into the city and county and provides highly skilled, well paid employment for the local community.
The ability of Kilkenny City to attract and retain high performing individuals in key positions who can develop and enhance essential facilities and/ or catalyse substantial financial investment in the local community will in large part be determined by its ability to offer them suitable housing opportunities. Such individuals provide leadership, innovation, possess unique talents and have a proven track record of achievement in areas which are of substantial and enduring benefit to the city and county. Their services and expertise will be in demand elsewhere in the State and every effort should be made to afford them the opportunity to settle with their families in Kilkenny.
Kilkenny City has very limited stock of large detached family homes set in substantial grounds. In the past opportunities have arisen for such housing needs to be met by sourcing derelict houses on large sites around the city which can be refurbished or replaced under the current Development Plan rural housing policy. However these opportunities rarely arise.
Given the limited options to meet the housing needs of those referred to above, it is considered that the Development Plan could provide opportunities to assist in attracting and retaining high performing individuals . A further aspect of rural housing policy along the following lines could address the issue:
Within the area of development pressure around Kilkenny City a positive presumption will be given towards building single houses for occupation by applicants who can:
1.Demonstrate an essential requirement for ease of access to work and to live close to the named work place in the city;
2.Demonstrate that alternative housing options for the type and scale of housing sought have been examined and discounted (with reasons) elsewhere in and around the city;
3.Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses have benefited the social and economic fabric of the community and will accrue by retaining them into the future through the provision suitable housing.
4. Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses are in demand elsewhere in the state and/ or overseas.
Response to Rural housing policy
Thank you for your comment. Has anyone else got any views on this subject?
Please note, as the 24th August 2012 was the cut-off for submissions to the pre-draft stage, we will consider this comment, and any other comments on this issue, during the next (Draft) phase of the process.
Submission to Kilkenny
Submission To Kilkenny Borough Council
On Development of The Diageeo site
Proposal To Name some Kilkenny street after William or Christopher Colles possibly on the Diagio site.
Ecology and The River
The River Nore is a designated area of conservation largely due to the imminent extinction of the Nore Pearl Mussel. Early records tell us that in the medieval period Pearl mussels were being exploited from the Nore not too far north of the City .The Rivers ecology should be paramount in any redevelopment.
Rivers forgotten Industrial development That helped Shape The World
The Earliest to scale detailed map of Kilkenny city was commissioned by none other than John Roque, of London, in 1759. Appointed Cartographer to the Prince of Wales and the most Eminent Urban Cartographer of his time in both the New World of North America and the British Empire this map was commissioned by Lord Ponsonby who was a close associate of City Alderman and Mayor William Colles. William Colles the great industrial magnate was credited with being the first person to use water power to form and shape stone,since Roman Times, and was possibly the first person in Ireland to use steam engines in his industrial endeavours which made him one of the most innovative industrialists of his time. One of his stone cutting machines was recorded as being able to do the work of forty men.
William Colles was also the main proponent of the Nore Navigation which was being built at the time of Roque was mapping Kilkenny and on inspection of that map we can see the New Quay which it would appear was a Lock Linking the river with the Coal Market in what is now Parliament street. This lock would have served as a safe haven for Barges in times of Flood as they would be safe from the torrents of the Nore when in Flood. A Toll House would also have been situated here to charge barges on the New Canal soon to serve New Ross and the rest of the world. Its confluence with the river was between where the tea house and the Toll house are situated.
Recorded in the Cartouche of Roques map are the 3 principal commodities of Kilkennys Commerce. Coal ,Marble and Wool. The rich veins of anthracite from the Colleries of Castlecommer capable of firing the hottest furnaces, the abundance of wool being processed in many of the Rivers 40 mills and the Marble being produced for the first time on an industrial scale would make the Canal viable and Kilkenny and William Colles very prosperous.
Then in 1762 the unthinkable happened, a spring flood of huge proportions descended, every Bridge on the river Nore, except Ballyragget and Norelands were washed away , and the canal by now 3/4s built had to be abandoned as resources from the House of commons were diverted into rebuilding the Bridges .
William Colles nephew Christopher Colles the engineer and surveyor of the Canal project was made redundant and went to Limerick where he over saw the completion of the Shannon Navigation, and the building of the Limerick Customs House. Christopher then emigrated to New York and brought with him his knowledge of canal building and steam engines that he learned from his uncle William in Kilkenny and went on to build Americas first steam engine to supply the city of New York with its first mains water supply. He became the progenitor of Americas largest inland Navigation when he presented to the Governors of New York his survey of what became the Eyrie Canal. He produced and published the first road map and Atlas of North America and is also credited with inventing the first optical telegram.
Kilkenny never became the industrial inland hub of Ireland that Colles envisioned after the great flood and the abandonment of the canal. His industrial endeavours instead were directed into building and is evidenced today in Many of the fine Georgian buildings of Kilkenny City and County.
Let us not continue to forget Willaim Colles , not a street not a building is named after him only an obituary raised to him by his family and ensconced in the east Wall of St Marys Church.
Kilkenny now has an opportunity to resurrect and celebrate the memories of two great men from one Family. This could be done by recreating the New Quay to provide a safe haven for any pleasure Barges could then moor in The Nores flood relief scheme and provide alternative tours of the City and its heritage.
A street could be called after Christopher Colles Americas first Steam Engine Builder and the Toll house where he possibly worked from as surveyor and Engineer of the Canal could house replicas of his many inventions .
Response to Colles Suggestion
Thank you for a very interesting insight to the contribution of William Colles to the history of Kilkenny City & County. These points will be taken into account in the preparation of the urban design framework plan/masterplan for the Smithwick’s site.
Development of the Brewery Site
Transfer of ownership of the Brewery site from Diageo to Kilkenny County Council presents a unique opportunity development opportuinity to the city of Kilkenny, indeed to the entire country.
A careful, historically respectful, people and environmentally friendly design and planning response is essential. In the near term at least, use of the site will also take place in a financially constrained context.
Development of the Diageo site should compliment and develop Kilkenny's existing strengths in arts, culture and heritage.
The use and development Diageo site should :
(1) Preserve and/or restore medieval street layouts
(2) Be branded as a new urban district within the city, focused on the arts, crafts, culture and heritage sectors, and including hubs for complimentary activities such as social enterprises.
(3) Include a substantial third level college presence. This should NOT be a "me too" activity ; there are already several other centres of excellence elsewhere in Ireland in domains such as information and communications technologies, bio-pharmaceuticals and the likes. The physical, historical and cultural context of the Diageo site (and of the city of Kilkenny as a whole) would make the site an ideal location for a college of performing arts, particularly one that could attract international students.
(4) Reuse the existing buildings on the site to the greatest practical extent.
(5) Be pedestrianised to the greatest possible extent.
(6) Provide greater public access to the river bank, including providing a pedestrian/cycling link under Green's bridge to the linear park.
(7) Faclitate increased amentiy use of the river, e.g. swimming and canoeing.
It is my belief that these objectives can (and should) be achieved without having to procede with the proposed Central Access Scheme.
Thank you for your submission
You will receive an acknowledgement email shortly. The issues raised will be summarised and addressed in the Manager's Report on Submissions to the Draft, which will be published this Autumn.