There could be major disruption to traffic around College Green when Dublin City Council reviews it’s traffic management plan.
The local authority is pressing ahead with its own arrangements after an oral hearing by An Bord Pleanála was cancelled.
An Bord Pleanála had been due to hold a public hearing next week on the city councils plan to pedestrianise College Green.
However the hearing was cancelled because not enough time was given in notices that appeared in the paper.
Now with no rescheduled date for the meeting, Dublin City Council plan to press ahead with it’s own traffic management arrangements.
The local authority says its priorities surround pedestrians and the new Luas cross city which the CEO of the National Transport Authority Anne Graham is backing:
“I think it’s good that Dublin City Council are now looking to see what can be done in advance of the College Green proposal hopefully coming to fruition.”
It’s unclear as yet what the traffic arrangements will look like but the council could issue an outright ban on taxis and cars from the area or stop buses from driving in front of Trinity College to get to Nassau Street.
Councillor Mannix Flynn says restrictions in the area won’t work:
“Everybody would like a plaza in the centre indeed that’s workable but that’s until people realise the consequences – buses would be re-routed down the like of Parnell street – crazy stuff.”
It’s unlikely that the council will ban buses from travelling to and from Dame St. ahead of the boards decision but any changes have the potential to result in major traffic congestion.
Feature Image: Eric Jones
