Living Streets Dún Laoghaire: Meeting held ahead of deadline for submissions

DUN Laoghaire residents and business owners remain divided on the local Council’s Living Streets proposals as the deadline for public consultation runs out today.

Over 400 people attended the meeting in the Royal Marine Hotel on Wednesday last (January 10), chaired by broadcaster and local businessman, Bobby Kerr.

The meeting was organised by a local group opposed to aspects of the plans on the basis that “they are a recipe for traffic gridlock”.

Deadline for submissions has been extended to today (January 16) after a system issue within Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council meant some submissions were lost from the process.

The controversial plan has pitted residents against each other due to proposed new modal filters to block through traffic on Tivoli Road; Cross Avenue and Clarinda Park West.

Pictured at last Wednesday’s Living Streets meeting, from left: Bobby Kerr, broadcaster and local businessman, calling the Living Streets meeting to order, with (from left) Deirdre Leahy; Joe Kennedy; Stephen Burke; Shauna Doherty; David Girwan and Derek Ryan.

Meeting organiser, local architect, Joe Kennedy, told the audience: “This is a fundamental principal of fairness, and one cohort’s amenity should not be at the expense of other cohorts’ amenities”.

He said that “rat running through areas like Tivoli Road can be avoided through good traffic management, without the need to close key roads.”

Mr Kennedy called for “engagement rather than fighting” and pleaded with the 7 councillors who represent Dun Laoghaire directly, to get the support of other councillors for necessary amendments to the Council plans.

Another local businessman, Stephen Burke, said the closure of Tivoli Road and Clarinda Park to through traffic means “we will be one puncture; one breakdown, one fender-bender from gridlock”. Concerns were cited about the ability of emergency vehicles to travel.

Deirdre Leahy, who operates a pharmacy near People’s Park, expressed concerns for elderly and ill people who will not be able to park near the medical centre on Clarinda Park nor St Michaels’ Hospital, once Lower Georges Street is pedestrianised.

There were many references at the meeting to the increased traffic that would result on Glenageary Road Upper and Lower, and that the Glenageary Roundabout is already at 103% capacity.

Dún Laoghaire-based accountant, Derek Ryan, said there are 1,100 business firms employing 9,000 people in the town and “what is bad for business in term of reduced customer footfall is ultimately bad for residents”.

A number of local councillors then addressed the packed meeting. Councillor Lorraine Hall (FG) said there are so many positive aspects of the “Living Streets” initiative, including access to €20m in funding from the National Roads Authority.”

Fellow Fine Gael councillor, Mary Fayne, said she “is totally against the modal filter on Tivoli Road. This road is a lung and should not have to close.”

Fianna Fail councillor, Justin Moylan, said: “closing Tivoli Road for through traffic really presents a challenge as it is moving problems from that road up onto other roads.”

Melissa Halpin, PBP councillor for the area, said: “there is nothing in the plan for extra public transport. We need to be told much more other than ‘to get on your bike or start walking’”.

Green councillor, Tom Kivlehan, said he was supportive of the road closures and the overall plan.