A public meeting will be held tonight at the Hillgrove Hotel to discuss Monaghan Co Council’s plans for regenerating Dublin Street and to launch a new campaign against those plans.
The local authority submitted proposals 12 months ago to demolish four historical buildings on the street and to develop a road through the car park.
Eddie O'Gara who is part of the new Campaign made submissions to the Council in an effort to highlight how the demolition and provision for more vehicles was not the way forward in terms of regeneration.
One of the buildings earmarked for demolition is also the birthplace of Charles Gavin Duffy.
Mr O'Gara says the entire street has been deemed an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and to therefore demolish buildings under that remit is very regressive.
He also pointed out that at a time when the focus is on sustainable living within town centres and meeting the housing needs of the population, the current proposals are unacceptable.
"We also are in a housing crisis and we are in a town centre first regeneration proposal in terms of what we are trying to do," continued Mr O'Gara.
"So, if that is the approach [by the local authority] it would seem strange to go to that level when we have a housing crisis.
"We are also trying to encourage people to live in our towns."
