Council must ‘seriously consider’ Lucan residents’ wishes, says Higgins
Gary Ibbotson 16 Mar 2022South Dublin County Council has been urged to “seriously consider” the feedback from local residents after the public consultation on the proposed Lucan Village revamp finished earlier this month.
Local Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins says that the local authority must listen to the views of the local community before finalising any plans for the area.
The proposed revamp will improve pedestrian paths in the village and develop more cycle lanes while removing 11 car parking spaces.
Electricity and phone cables will also be diverted underground and a new “shared space” for pedestrians will be constructed beside the village green.
A park on the south end of the village will be overhauled to create a green with an “amphitheatre-style space” and bandstand, too.
“My understanding is that, in excess of 7,000 submissions were received by the council, so this is clearly a matter which people feel very strongly about,” Deputy Higgins said.
“I conducted an informal survey of hundreds of residents and businesses in Lucan in November and the removal of car parking spaces was definitely the main concern raised with me with 78% of respondents stating that parking in Lucan Village is already an issue.”
According to the plans published by the council, a net 11 car parking spaces will be removed from Main Street.
Under the proposal, Main Street would be resurfaced and 37 existing car parking spaces will be removed, with the provision of 16 new spaces on the street.
This will include three disability spaces, and another 10 spaces within 100 metres of the street.
Local councillor Joanna Tuffy says that misinformation has been spread regarding the number of spaces that have been earmarked for removal.
“But the most important thing is that people know what’s in the plan: this is not pedestrianisation, there are no restrictions on traffic, and a net loss of just 11 parking spaces.”
“Contrary to information on a leaflet being delivered around Lucan that SDCC plans to remove up to 60 parking places from Lucan Main Street, the net loss of spaces under these plans will be 11 spaces.”
However, Deputy Higgins says that if the majority of local residents are against the scheme, then a “a compromise or alternative proposal will need to be found.
“I want to see the Village Green developed into a more usable space and I want to see our footpaths upgraded and made more accessible, in particular for our wheelchair users and buggies, but this needs to be achieved without costing us the vibrancy of our village,” she says.
“If the current plans were progressed as is, I would have particular concerns for the older population or those with mobility issues who rely on parking in the village to access the medical centre or the pharmacy or who rely on their car for grocery shopping and other errands.
“I have made my own submission to the council and I hope they will listen to the concerns.”
Tuffy says that she thinks “this plan will make the village safer and more accessible.”