Malahide group files legal challenge against New Street proposal

After 12 months of campaigning, Save Malahide Village, a group of Malahide residents and business owners have filed a legal challenge against Fingal County Council’s decision to pedestrianise New Street.

Last year, the local authority decided to pedestrianise the street on a trial basis to facilitate outdoor dining and greater pedestrian access.

That period has since been extended with the street currently being closed to traffic.

The council also launched a public survey on the scheme earlier this year, asking people to give their thoughts on the street’s closure.

Although the group says the survey results show that the project is not welcome by locals, the council says the survey was not quantitatively based and thus, no clear outcome could be deduced by the answers given.

In a statement, the group said: “In the past year the Save Malahide Village campaign has persistently argued that Fingal County Council should take account of the view of the majority of local residents and businesses to re-open New Street and engage in a statutory planning process, based on implementing the Malahide Public Realm Strategy.

“We pursued this through all avenues available to us.

“The campaign is disappointed that residents have been forced to take legal action as a last resort.

“The way forward is through the statutory process of public consultation and respecting the shared uses of Malahide village.

“We have no further comment to make at this time.”

It is understood the group claims that the closure of the street causes more traffic congestion in other parts of the village as well as an increase in anti-social behaviour stemming from on-street drinking.

It is also claimed that the proposal to pedestrianise the street should have gone to a public consultation before a decision, which was not done.

It is understood that the case will be heard in October.

In a statement to Northside People, Fingal County Council said: “As this is a legal issue Fingal County Council will not be making any comment.”