The People’s Transition Larchville and Lisduggan
About the project:
The Larchville and Lisduggan People’s Transition project began in April 2023 and ran until June 2024. The intention of the project was to listen to and learn from the community’s needs and abilities and then attempt to design a number of climate solutions that would benefit the community and address a number of the main local development priorities. This report captures the People’s Transition process as it was applied in the communities of Larchville and Lisduggan, two residential neighbourhoods located approximately two kilometres southeast of Waterford City Centre.
What we heard:
Larchville and Lisduggan residents overwhelmingly described the sense of community and the local people as their biggest strength.
The impact of rising living costs is a prominent problem in the area.
The importance of developing safe and sustainable pathways for the young people of Larchville is rooted in the desire to continue eradicating crime from the community.
It appears that mental health issues may be compounded by, and interrelated to, other social issues, including the experience of living in poverty or deprivation, suffering from addiction, or being a victim of intimidation.
Project location
Proposed climate solutions
The solutions and pathways forward proposed in this report are:
The development of green spaces for mental health by and for the community
A repair café and Library of Things
A ‘whole of community’ approach to retrofitting
The first two solutions aim to build the capacity to engage with, and benefit from, climate action at a local level, while the third seeks to create opportunities for employment and community wealth building while addressing energy poverty and persistent deprivation. These specific solutions are designed to meet the need for climate action whilst also being realistic and beneficial for the residents of Larchville and Lisduggan.
