DLRCoCo launches ‘Summer Streets’ initiative for towns and villages

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has launched ‘Summer Streets’ an initiative that aims to provide safe, welcoming and people-friendly public spaces in towns and villages in the county.

In a statement released by DLRCoCo, the local authority said this will involve, “the reallocation of existing car parking spaces,” which will “help the council provide attractive, safe spaces for cafés, restaurants and pubs, allowing diners to enjoy the food offerings of our hospitality businesses in comfortable surroundings throughout the summer and beyond.

“Working in partnership with businesses and communities in our towns and villages, Summer Streets will allow people to move around in safety and comfort and allow diners to enjoy the outdoor dining experience, help hospitality businesses re-establish in, what we hope will be, improving times and deliver an enhanced vibrancy to our streets.

“Actively enticing people back into the heart of our villages and towns will bring additional benefit to all retail businesses as well as hospitality.

The council said that the first area that will avail of this initiative will be Cabinteely with Stepaside, Monkstown, and Dun Laoghaire all earmarked for the scheme.

“Works in Cabinteely Village and at other locations in the county will commence in the coming days, with the aim to have works completed for the start of outdoor dining on 7th June.

“The council will be carrying out the necessary works to essentially temporarily build out and infill the car parking spaces, making safe with the boundary of the road carriageway, finishing the surface level with the adjoining footpath and providing screening through the use of planters.

“The finished space will then be handed over to the businesses who will then be able to put out their own street furniture, awnings or canopies.

“Businesses will be allowed use the space subject to the terms and conditions of an outdoor furniture licence, which includes ensuring that footpaths are kept clear of obstructions and don’t impede the safe movement of pedestrians or people with mobility challenges.”

Speaking about the initiative Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, councillor Una Power said: “This initiative aims bring buzz back to our street and improve the streetscape in a more people oriented way.

“It is also a demonstration of councils commitment to continuing to support local business, especially the hospitality sector, bringing footfall into our smaller villages.

“Very excited to see this come to Cabinteely – it’s going to be a fantastic spot for an outdoor summer!”