Waterford City is ideally suited for rejuvenation, at least that according to expert speakers who last have presented their ideas for city renewal at the National Regeneration Conference in the Theatre Royal.
Christina Lister, Communications Manager of Norwich's Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) spoke about the importance of having pride in your home city.
She said: "For any city, including Waterford, it's crucial that people work together and create initiatives that may not be obvious. Heritage and culture are key to a town's development and we also found that festivals help create a sense of unity in the community."
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She stressed that political cooperation was crucial as she felt "egos often got in the way" of urban development.
Richard Smith from the Head of Business and Consultancy at Living Streets, spoke about developing a city visually.
Mr Smith outlined how beneficial walking routes are for a city's reputation and how the smallest touches can make a noticeable difference.
Dr Shaleen Singhal from the University of Ulster commented on how Waterford could learn from fellow middle cities in his native India, and Britain.
He said: "When talking about urban development the key issues are sustainable development and partnership. There needs to be a proactive planning system and community engagement.
"In the UK cities such as Liverpool and Glasgow have developed significantly over the last few years, and I think Waterford can follow their example."
Tom Murran, President of the Waterford Chamber, was delighted with the quality of speakers and extremely optimistic for the future of Waterford's urban development. He emphasised how important positivity is, amid challenging times.
(BMcC/GK)
