Our city centres need footfall more than they need cars

The lifting of the car ban on St Patrick’s St this week should not fool us. Cheap car-parking blights urban centres, while pedestrians rejuvenate them, says William Brady.

Cork has been selected by government, under the National Planning Framework (NPF), as an alternative, national growth centre. This means developing the city as an internationally-competitive and sustainable urban environment. Cork is expected to accommodate substantial growth in population and jobs.