The public space being installed at the top of Peter Street has come in for a lot of criticism but a spokesperson for Louth County Council has asked people to be patient and give them a chance because it’s not finished yet.
Olivia McCormack of the Place Making section of the Council told Councillors that the reason for apparent differences between the published plans for St. Peter’s Place and how it looks at the moment is that sculpture, planting and seating has still to be installed.
Ms McCormack was responding to criticisms made by Councillors at yesterday’s Borough District meeting.
Cllr. Pio Smith said that the aesthetics of the structure as it is are not good and that he had received many comments about it, most of them absolutely negative.
He said that the design was supposed to look down Peter Street and over towards Millmount on the other side of town.
Much of the criticism centred on the main wall in the installation which is higher than anticipated and which Cllr. James Byrne said looked like a “giant urinal.”
Ms McCormack explained that, for health and safety reasons alterations had to be made to the plans because of the steep incline of the site.
“When the planting matures it will be a much greener area and will take away from the stark concrete look.”
Services Director Paddy Donnelly emphasised that it was early days and that the retaining wall had to be heightened to 1.2 metres on the advice of the engineering department.
He said he was delighted to see that people had started to use the space and that further tweaks are to be made.
“Maybe people should hold off on the criticism until we see the sculpture in place and the planting completed” he suggested.
Councillor Kevin Callan said that the original vision for the site was as a visual link between St. Peter’s and Millmount thus bringing the two sides of the town together. He suggested that cladding of some kind on the South facing wall might improve the look of it.
Joanna Byrne said she didn’t like to knock the efforts of the Council in trying to improve the public realm but she noted that, as it stands, the larger wall of the installation is acting as a wind trap for rubbish.
Olivia McCormack said the project should be finished by the end of March and, while she had noted the criticisms, she asked people to give it a chance until they see the finished item.
