Locals demand action on Clontarf safety

A CLONTARF group is calling on the council to make the area safe for social distancing following the removal of protective ‘traffic wands’ in the village. 

In July Dublin City Council, as part of a Covid Mobility Program, started a project to make Clontarf Village safe for social distancing.

This primarily involved placing protective wands fixed to the ground on Vernon Avenue in order to widen the footpath outside the busy shopping area to allow people to pass each other safely.

This now required cars to park parallel instead of perpendicular to the footpath and resulted in the removal of six car park spaces.

Adam Teeling from the group ‘Open Clontarf Campaign’ explained to Northside People what happened next.

According to Mr Teeling: “Five hours after being installed the wands were removed,” he said.

 “The village area at the end of Vernon Avenue is particularly bad for congestion with regular illegal parking on footpaths.

“This makes it very difficult for people, especially the elderly and those with mobility issues to travel; the risk of Covid 19 has made this a significant concern.

“Following the removal of the wands Clontarf Area councillors were contacted by a business stating their objection to the barrier.

“A DCC North Central Meeting was held where DCC staff stated that the area was ‘unsafe’ for social distancing and needed protective measures as were initially carried out.

“Four of the six councillors objected and the works therefore did not continue as there was a clear majority against.

“We would like to see the wands reinstated immediately to ensure a safe area to walk and shop.

“Further steps need to be addressed in terms of the congestion but reinstating the wands removed is a critical first step that is needed.”

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