LIMERICK City and County Council has been asked to hold a workshop to facilitate further engagement on amendments to the city’s Active Travel Scheme.
The call came from Labour Party councillor Joe Leddin after more than 1,000 submissions were received during the initial consultation period, of which close to 75 per cent expressed opposition on the draft designs.
The scheme, if approved, would stretch over 2.6 kilometres from the Ballykeeffe roundabout along the South Circular Road and Henry Street before connecting to Howley’s Quay.
“Loss of parking and traffic management changes were the main sources of concern by those who made submissions and every effort must be made to try and address these concerns by engineers,” Cllr Leddin told the Limerick Post.
“While we have responsibility to put in place active travel measures including upgraded pedestrian, cycle, and bus infrastructure, this must be done without negatively affecting the quality of people’s lives.
“My proposal to host a workshop will enable councillors actively engage in person rather than online with engineers to agree amendments that will mitigate the potential impact on residents and businesses directly impacted.”
Some aspects of the scheme, including making Henry Street, Quin Street, and Gerard Street one way have been received positively, Cllr Leddin revealed.
“However, the removal of car spaces, filtered access for cars on the South Circular Road, and the planned bi-directional cycle way route is causing considerable concern,” the councillor said.
“Taxpayers are funding all these Active Travel Schemes and it is important that we make every effort to ensure that the final plans reflect the views of those most impacted.
“While the chief executive’s report on the scheme has now been issued, the workshop will allow for agreed changes to be formally proposed at the February council meeting prior to any vote being taken,” Cllr Leddin concluded.
