Towards a more age friendly Galway City Presentation to Galw ay City Recreation & Am enity SPC Outdoor Spaces & Public Seating
Focus of this presentation � Background to age friendly city work � Public seating as issue for older people � Feedback from our consultation in Galway City � Recommendations
Background Galway City & Age Friendly � WHO Healthy Cities Programme since 2006 � Healthy Ageing theme � WHO Age Friendly City Framework
WHO Age Friendly City Framework Outdoor spaces and 1. buildings Transportation 2. Housing 3. Social participation 4. Age Respect and social 5. Friendly inclusion Cities Civic participation 6. and employment Communication and 7. information Community support 8. and health services
Consultation with older People � Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Galway City in relation to the Age Friendly checklist � 2009 – Report on views of 95 older people
Outdoor Spaces & Buildings + � Eyre Square, Salthill prom, Canal Walk, Barna New Park � General feeling that green spaces well maintained
Outdoor Spaces & Buildings - Pavem ents � Cars & Bicycles parked � Broken, uneven, slippy � Not wide enough or enough white lines Cycling in pedestrian areas Lack of Public Seating I nsufficient public toilet facilities available ( 6 9 % ) Green areas in som e locations
Public Seating Public seating is an essential feature of any age friendly community, and benefits people of all ages
Why is seating important? � Day to day living – supermarket, post office, bus stop can be impossible if no where to sit � Social impact - difference between living a full life and feeling cut off and isolated. � Enables older people to be have more active lifestyle
Benefits of having public seating � Individual older people � Wider communities as a whole � Economic benefit for local businesses and services
Feedback from older people � March 2011 consultation with older people regarding provision of public seating � Twelve groups and five individuals responded to this invitation.
Positive feedback given on seating River bank Cathedral Prom Skeff Ballyloughane beach Eyre Sq.
Concerns re existing seating � Condition of seating e.g. Fuchsia Renmore, Waterside � Some seating is filthy with bottles, cans, paper and gum � Safety concerns – vandalism & anti social behaviour � Seating outside pubs and restaurants and windbreakers are causing obstruction
Additional seating suggestions � City Centre - Shop St, Mainguard St, Quay St � Salthill – Prom at Grattan Rd & the top of Threadneedle Rd � Spanish Arch and Spanish Parade � Near the River Corrib opposite Cathedral. � W oodquay – Courthouse area � Seats along Quincentenary Bridge � Renm ore - Ballyloughane end, Nolan Park, Ballyloughane beach continuous seating, a bench instead of four single seats � New castle - along the River Corrib by student village � Open space near Liam Mellow s Statues
Additional seating suggestions � Bus shelter on the Castle Park Road between the library and the Church; � Bus stop in Connolly Terrace; � Eyre Square more seating at bus stops � Considered as part of planning for shopping facilities and other services
Feedback on type of seating � Older people in City prefer seating that one can hold on to, with backing e.g. wooden bench � Seating to provide shelter where possible � Some similar to perches at Skeff
Positioning of seating � Main consideration is that it shouldn’t cause an obstacle/ hazard for someone with a disability � NCBI – Guidelines for Accessibility of the built environment www.ncbi.ie � NDA – Buildings for everyone Part 2 (09) p. 77-79 www.nda.ie � IWA – Access guidelines 09 (p44) www.iwa.ie
Recommendations from older people � Each street area should have public seating at regular intervals � Priority - older people/ designated area � Monitored - Community Wardens / security cameras � Regular maintenance � Public parks suitable for all abilities with facilities e.g. exercise, seating and coffee area e.g. Stephen’s green
Conclusion � Map of provision of public seating � Audit of existing seating � Policy on the provision of public seating � I nclusion of older people in the development and delivery of facilities and amenities
Go raibh maith agaibh! Further information www.galwayhealthycities.ie Evelyn Fanning/ Lisa Corbett Health Promotion HSE Tel 091 548321 Email Evelyn.Fanning@hse.ie
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