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You are > Home > Regeneration plan to spearhead Portlaw’s economic revival
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Friday, September 19, 2003
Regeneration plan to spearhead Portlaw’s economic revival
By Jennifer Long
A CO. Waterford town which has long fought to achieve recognition in the history books as one of the few purposebuilt towns in Ireland, received a massive boost last week with the launch of a special plan that could return it to former glory.
Portlaw, which 200 years ago became home to a Malcomson Cotton Mill, is in line for major development, with huge potential for tourism, if the aims and objectives contained in the specially-commissioned Portlaw Conservation Plan come to pass.
Compiled by a team of architects, town planners and archaeologists, the ambitious plan sets out a framework for the sustainable regeneration of the 19 th century model village.
Portlaw is the only ‘model’ development in Ireland which matches the achievement of world-renowned villages found in England, Scotland and America.
It was a Victorian social and planning experiment where a village was developed around a flourishing cotton mill and the owner of the business took responsibility for the welfare of the residents and workforce.
Naturally, the regeneration of the original site of the 19th century Cotton Mill and the 20th century Tannery — the remains of both of which still stand today — is central to the Portlaw Conservation Plan which, in itself, is an attempt to spearhead the economic revival of the town.
Commissioned almost three years ago by Waterford Co. Council, the Heritage Council and the Dept. of the Environment, the plan was officially launched on Friday morning last by Environment Minister Martin Cullen who told those present there were exciting times ahead.
Pledging his support for the project for as long as he held the Environment portfolio, he said it was a sorry fact that sometimes reports did end up on shelves gathering dust.
However, praising all involved in the Portlaw plan, which would be a “catalyst for change” in the town, he said it would lead to “one of the most important heritage-led regeneration projects in the country”.
Among those present at the launch, which was held at Woodlock House, Portlaw, a Malcolmson building and now a nursing home, were Co. Manager Donal Connolly, Co. Mayor Kieran O’Ryan, local councillor Paudie Coffey (FG), members of the project team, Council and heritage officials as well as a number of local residents and business people.
Special guest, meanwhile, was Jim Arnold, of the New Lanark Development Trust in Scotland, who was instrumental in the rejuvenation of the village of New Lanark which was also the home of a derelict and disused Cotton Mill.
“VERY HOPEFUL”
Local councillor Paudie Coffey, who has been an instrumental force behind the Portlaw Plan, said he has always known that Portlaw was an “amazing, special and unique heritage town” which had the potential “to tell a fascinating story about its past.”
Stressing he was “very hopeful” that through the implementation of the plan, Portlaw could “reclaim its unique and historic identity”, he said unfortunately through the passing of time, buildings such as the Copper Lodge and Milfort House had been already lost, while Mayfield House and the canal were “under threat as we speak”.
“I’ve no doubt there are challenges ahead but we can be successful and Portlaw will claim rightfully its place as a World Heritage Site,” he said.
Thanking all who had dedicated so much time and effort to the plan, as well as Minister Martin Cullen, he said he hoped their support could be counted on to see the plan through to implementation.
Co. Mayor Kieran O’Ryan said he had personally felt for a long time that Portlaw had been neglected, while Co Manager Donal Connolly, heaped praise on all involved in the putting together of the plan which he said was “excellent”, sentiments also expressed by Dr. Tom O’Dwyer, Chair of the Heritage Council.
Minister Martin Cullen said he was delighted in his time of office, that such a substantial project would be going on in his own constituency and he pledged to do all he could to progress it. Congratulating all involved in the project, he said Portlaw was “the finest example of a company town in Ireland” and he would work closely with all involved to do what he could to see the plan through.
“Many good plans, unfortunately, never materialise but I’m determined that will not happen in this case. This Conservation Plan will spearhead the economic revival of the town, in particular through the regeneration of the site of the original 19th century cotton mill and the 20th century tannery. It is due to become one of the most important heritage-led regeneration projects in the country,” he said. “It is important for Portlaw, not just in heritage terms, but from a socio-economic perspective too.
Heritage is the means through which the regeneration of Portlaw can take place. It will hopefully be a catalyst for change.”
LOOK BACK
“I wish the Conservation Body every success with their work and perhaps in 15 or 20 years time we will be able to look back with a sense of pride as to what has been achieved in terms of the regeneration of this truly historic town,” he said, adding that it was great that already a co-ordinator, Gary Miley, had been appointed to start the implementation process.
Finally, Jim Arnold, Director of New Lanark Development Trust, who made an enthralling presentation on the progression of the Scottish village over 30 years thanks to a massive regeneration project, said he had no doubt Portlaw was “truly special”.
Although there was a long, hard road ahead, he said, New Lanark — which now attracts 400,000 tourists each year (compared to 1,000 in 1984), showed that potential could be realised.
Funding from Europe, local authorities, lotto funding and Government funding to name but a few, had transformed New Lanark which, like Portlaw, was situated in a rural setting. New Lanark, which has now become a designated World Heritage Site, was the subject of a large-scale 30-year restoration project, which involved hundreds of local workers, which involved rejuvenation of the mill building and other related historic buildings in the village.
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