|
 |
You are > Home > Report on sustainable urban design welcomed
|
Friday, May 07, 2004
Report on sustainable urban design welcomed
THE Waterford Greens are hoping to raise public awareness of the recently published report by the EU working group on sustainable urban design.
According to local Green Party spokesperson, Brendan McCann, the report raises many issues relevant to the future development of urban areas in Waterford and the South-East.
“The publication of this report last week shows that there is an increasing acceptance amongst planners in the European Union that environmental and social issues need to be accorded equal priority alongside economic development if our cities and towns are to have a sustainable future,” said Brendan McCann.
“It is of particular relevance to the South-East Region in view of the relatively large number of medium to large size urban centres in the Region.”
The working group on sustainable urban design is one of 4 independent expert working groups set up under the EU Expert Group on the Urban Environment and the report can be found on the EU website at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/urba n/sustainable_urban_design.htm.
The report found that excessive land take, traffic levels and car use, congestion and pollution and the loss of vitality associated with, and general unsustainability of, segregated land uses, were key environmental issues that needed to be addressed. At least some of these could be ameliorated by improved urban design. Many social issues of equal importance emerged. These included social and ethnic segregation, lack of participation and social alienation, social exclusion, growing crime and insecurity, particularly in poorer inner city areas and on isolated public housing estates, unemployment and lack of housing, educational and cultural facilities and preservation of cultural heritage. Many of these factors are associated with globalisation (including economic and political integration within Europe) and its impacts.
Many case studies and recommendations of how to make progress are included in the report. The report shows that the quality of urban living depends on an interplay of social, economic, cultural and environmental factors and recommends that appropriate urban densities must allow for: efficient public transport systems; affordable urban infrastructures and services (water, sewage, waste, etc.); easy access to community and recreational facilities; and the creation of community identity.
Increased densities in urban sprawl areas are recommended so as to avoid excessive land consumption and population densities in city and town centre areas need to be adjusted to maintain acceptable quality of life levels.
There is also a call for the preservation of green areas among existing and new urban areas and the development decentralised nodes in large urban areas.
“This report shows that many of the issues we are facing in Waterford and the South-East are prevalent across Europe. The issues raised in it and its recommendations need to be discussed and debated.
The Waterford Greens would encourage anybody with an interest in the future development of the South-East to study this report carefully and see what lessons we can draw from it,” concluded Brendan McCann.
Main News Page |
Previous Page
|
|
|
|
