Following news this week that Dublin City Council refused planning permission to build a nine-story hotel around The Cobblestone, a group of organisers behind the campaign to protect the iconic traditional music pub have issued a statement.

In addition to the protests in the city during the #SaveTheCobblestone campaign, the Dublin Is Dying group used social media to raise awareness about the "cultural, social and historical significance of The Cobblestone"; to "act as a guide to the public for submitting objections to the hotel plans to Dublin City Council"; and to encourage "meaningful change in DCC policy regarding the destruction of important cultural spaces, such as Merchant's Arch and The House of the Dead."

In a statement issued today, Dublin Is Dying thanked the public for their support and their involvement in the campaign. They also noted that "there's still more to be done..."

"This decision from DCC is only the start of plans for the protection of the Cobblestone," they wrote. "We have every reason to expect an appeal to this decision which would place the issue in the hands of An Bord Pleanála. We will continue to oppose these plans at every stage of the process and we hope to engage continued public support.

"We now turn our attention to highlighting the inadequacies of our current planning systems and processes and how to effect lasting change to ensure future planning proposals for the Cobblestone site respect the importance of this cultural bastion."

Dublin Is Dying also announced a series of proposals, which they hope will address "the abhorrent rates of dereliction (or property vandalism) in Dublin"; "the total ineptitude of current social housing provision"; and "the preservation of our architectural heritage."

Encouraging the people of Dublin to write to their elected officials to demand action, Dublin Is Dying set out their proposals – which can be read in full below:

Dublin Needs A Democratically Elected Mayor:

Why Dublin needs this: The Development Plan should be run from this office and form the manifesto for mayoral candidates. The DCC Planners must be provided a culture and environment to deliver the Development Plan, remain autonomous and free from interference on decisions from vested interests.

How do we do it: We do not require constitutional reform to deliver this and it is long overdue. Elected officials need to act.

Culture Needs to be Assessed and Protected:

Why Dublin needs this: while there is mention of protecting culture in the Development Plans, it is difficult to assess for planners and even more difficult to make decisions for or against proposed developments which impact culture. Clearer definitions will help protect existing spaces and create new cultural spaces too.

How do we do it: A motion to create specific definitions for cultural spaces was recently passed at Dublin City Councils Arts strategic planning committee meeting.

Now specific designations and strong commitments must be written into our City Development Plan and planners supported to uphold.

Planning Departments Need a Density Standard:

Why Dublin needs this: There is an over-concentration of hotels, student accommodation and buy to rent in pockets across the city. Planning decisions are being made application by application, rather than a considered and coherent fashion which might deliver a city that provides for its people while also being enjoyable for tourists to visit.

How do we do it: We call on the City Architect to step up and ensure this critical requirement is delivered into our frameworks so our DCC planners and An Bord Pleanála can deliver decisions against the criteria.