On December 12 Dublin City Council launched a conservation plan for Henrietta Street on Dublin's northside. According to the Lord Mayor, "This conservation plan is essential in highlighting the architectural vulnerabilities on Henrietta Street and will help to re-affirm its significance through the implementation of appropriate policies". Furthering this point, City Manager, John Tierney said "Henrietta Street is the single most intact and important architectural collection of individual houses, as a street, in Dublin. Internationally, the street is of unique European significance, being the only intact example of an early 18th century street of houses, which influenced what was to become the Georgian style".

For those familiar with the street, this was a great development, one of the hidden gems of Dublin's Georgian heritage would be saved and allowed to be appreciated by future generations. Unfortunately nobody seems to have told Dublin City Council. They have recently been replacing the old granite paving slabs with imported granite in a completely unsuitable colour. It can only be hoped that this is an abberation and that the original stonework will be replaced. But somehow, we at Archiseek.com don't think so.

When exactly is Dublin City Council planning on paying attention to its own plan? Could they not reset the original slabs? If not, surely they have a store of surplus slabs removed from other sites? Henrietta Street may look down-at-heel but to needlessly remove quality paving which contributed to the atmosphere and visual appearance of the street is vandalism. Pure and simple.