Lord Mayor claims civic plaza will not ‘scupper’ pedestrianisation of Capel Street

Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland has denied reports that the proposed civic plaza earmarked for Liffey Street will hamper plans for the full pedestrianisation of Capel Street.

In 2019, Dubln City Council proposed to close Liffey Street lower to traffic in order to create a pedestrian area near the Ha’penny Bridge.

According to the council, traffic on Abbey Street, including cars exiting Arnotts car park, would no longer be able to access the quays via Liffey Street Lower.

Instead, they would have to turn right on to Strand Street and continue to Capel Street to reach the quayside at Grattan Bridge.

Under the local authority’s proposal, this would allow for the creation of a “pedestrian friendly” space on Liffey Street Lower and Upper with sitting areas, bicycle stands, trees and planters.

The scheme was presented to councillors in February 2019 and subsequently approved in a vote later that year.

However, the project was delayed due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and construction has still not begun.

Last summer, following calls from councillors and residents, the council decided to pedestrianise the nearby Capel Street on weekend evenings to accommodate outdoor dining and socialising.

The success of the scheme and subsequent public consultation found that nearly 80 per cent of respondents were in favour of pedestrianising the street on a permanent basis.

The consultation asked people to give their opinion on a number of options, including allowing for through traffic on the street but the retention of car parking spaces and loading bays as outdoor dining areas; and the or the full or part pedestrianisation of the street, at weekend nights, every weeknight, or on a full-time basis.

Overall, 79 percent of the 7,000 respondents were in favour of a full pedestrianisation of the street.

However, the plans for the civic area on Liffey Street proposal requires traffic to use Capel Street, from Strand Street, at Panti Bar and Jack Nealon’s pub, to the quays.

Gilliland said that our new Liffey St pedestrian plaza will “not scupper any Capel St traffic free plans

“There are a number of options for how the two schemes can work together but it definitely is not an either or situation.”

Local Green Party councillor Janet Horner said: “We have plans for the pedestrianisation of: Capel Street, Liffey Street and Mary Street. We don’t need to sacrifice any of them to get one over the line.”

Last week councillors were briefed once again on the Liffey Street plans and were informed that it is due to go out for tender shortly, with construction expected to start in April.

A spokeswoman for the council said the Liffey Street scheme already had planning approval from city councillors “and as such the works are due to proceed here over the next number of months.

“The requirements of this scheme will be factored into the new proposed traffic management regime in Capel Street.”

These proposals for Capel Street will be presented to local councillors before the end of March.