Chapelizod locals ‘sick’ of constant traffic problems

Chapelizod residents are “sick” of the consistent traffic problems in the village, a local councillor says.

Independent councillor Sophie Nicoullaud says that some residents have been campaigning for 20 years for better transport infrastructure in the village and feel Dublin City Council is “ignoring them.”

Nicoullaud recently tabled a motion asking the council to meet with residents and discuss ways as to how ease traffic congestion.

The motion read: “That DCC meets Chapelizod residents to deal with the dangerous, persistent and increasing traffic situation in Chapelizod.

“That DCC invites the OPW and the NTA to be present to the meeting with DCC to address the situation in a coherent manner.

“That DCC organises a much needed presentation for Chapelizod residents detailing future traffic improvements and plans in the near, medium and long term,” she said.

Nicoullaud also said that the upcoming large-scale developments due to begin around Chapelizod will further worsen the situation.

“The village is going through a lot of major changes: Phoenix Park plans, Springvale with 71 units, Bus Connects and other housing constructions,” she says.

“That this presentation takes into consideration all future plans and that all plans be put into one to show a comprehensive, explanatory and clear view of what the village traffic will look like under all the projects put together.”

Nicoullaud told Dublin People that some residents have been campaigning for 20 years for better road infrastructure but are being “ignored” by the local authority.

“Nobody is addressing the situation,” she says.

“There are no solutions.

“The by-pass hasn’t changed anything the measures installed to slow down traffic are not working.

“The roads and footpaths and extremely dangerous and narrow.

“Some parents who have contacted me will not allow their kids to walk to school and there have been incidents of cars and vans crashing into houses recently,” she says.

In response to Nicoullaud’s motion, Dublin City Council says it will compile a report and meet with Chapelizod residents in the autumn.

“We have been told that the council will publish a report in September on the traffic problems in Chapelizod and meet with the residents,” she says.

“We need to see 3D models, clear plans on how the council plans to deal with it.

“It is extremely important that the council meets with residents because they are sick of it,” says Nicoullaud.

“Chapelizod is beautiful and there are a lot of people living here, but after decades, residents say that the council is just not seeing the issue.”