Towards a more age friendly City

Presentation to Galway City Recreation & Amenity 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

1. Outdoor spaces and buildings 2. Transportation 3. Housing 4. Social participation Age 5. Respect and social Friendly inclusion Cities 6. Civic participation and employment 7. Communication and information 8. Community support 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 +

{ , prom, Canal Walk, New Park { General feeling that green spaces well maintained Outdoor Spaces & Buildings -

Pavements { Cars & Bicycles parked { Broken, uneven, slippy { Not wide enough or enough white lines

Cycling in pedestrian areas

Lack of Public Seating

Insufficient public toilet facilities available (69%)

Green areas in some 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

Prom River bank Cathedral

Ballyloughane beach Skeff Eyre Sq. Concerns re existing seating

{ Condition of seating e.g. Fuchsia , 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 { and Spanish Parade { Near the River Corrib opposite Cathedral. { Woodquay – Courthouse area { Seats along Quincentenary Bridge { Renmore - Ballyloughane end, Nolan Park, Ballyloughane beach continuous seating, a bench instead of four single seats { Newcastle - along the River Corrib by student village { Open space near 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 { Inclusion 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 [email protected]