Council plans to refurbish Meath Street in The Liberties

Dublin City Council has submitted a planning application for proposed improvements for Meath Street.

The proposal will mirror works on Francis Street and retain traffic on the street, with a single-lane one-way route northwards.

The proposal includes widened footpaths, pedestrian crossings at junctions, zones for set-down parking, bicycle parking, trees and seating.

Consultations were carried out with local residents and businesses in October 2018 and early 2019.

A number of issues were highlighted, which noted that the street was “parking dominated” with diminished pedestrian space and poor visual environment.

Other issues raised at the time included pavement widths, a lack of seating, poor quality of materials, a lack of greenery and the street being “dominated by traffic”.

The proposed design aims to create space for outdoor seating and potential street markets, new public lighting and “significantly” wider footpaths for pedestrians.

Discussing the planned works, Bruce Phillips, Area Manager, said “there has been a steady improvement in the quality of streetscapes, public spaces and green areas across The Liberties and other areas of the South West Inner City in recent years.”

“Following the completion of the refurbishment of Francis Street, we’re pleased now to turn our attention to Meath Street, the traditional heart of The Liberties and one of the city’s most celebrated streets.”

 “The work being proposed will help to revitalise the street and its offer and support a wider range of uses such as outdoor seating and potential street markets. It prioritises pedestrians by creating more generous footpaths and introducing trees and landscaping to the street while maintaining access and servicing for businesses”.