Following a lengthy three year consultation process which involved much public engagement and a widespread demand for something transformational and ambitious, #LiveableLimerick are dismayed that this proposal fails to deliver on the Executive’s own stated vision for a transformative project for Limerick’s greatest street.
Admirable objectives have been hi-jacked and made impossible by one single design choice – to impact least significantly on through traffic. True, removal of through traffic would cause some disruption but we believe the negative impact on a small group is much outweighed by the advantages of creating a genuine shared space in that location to surrounding retail, to people living in the city and to those who come to visit and spend time in the city centre in terms of safely from collision and clean air and noise pollution. We also believe that the incovenienced group (the through-traffic) in a city which is grid-patterned and not very congested also have many other options available even today before any other changes are made or roads built – especially in terms of traffic crossing over the city in a north-south direction.
We appreciate that a huge amount of time has been put into the project to date. However, the proposed two lane ‘movement corridor’, in any of the configurations outlined, remains a transport movement corridor and not a destination. It is therefore likely to fail in its objectives to revitalise the city centre. More worryingly by drawing on design principles from two contradictory objectives, it is at significant risk of exposing users to very dangerous conditions and Councillors need to be very aware of this.
Given the amount of money proposed to be spent and the disruption it will cause to visitors, residents, workers and traders, we call on the Local Councillors to interogate this proposal, taking into account the recommendations set out above in the paramount interest of the safety of the users of the space. We believe that a better, transformative project is possible for our city.
We call on Councillors to put people to the centre of the design, take the brave decision to design a street to a standard worthy to take its place along side other national and international cities.
We recognise that the Councillors have to weigh up many different considerations in making their decision and that is their decision. We have tried therefore in making the submission above to be helpful by drawing on the expertise available to us as a group to help inform their decision.
We are available to discuss this with Councillors and officials individually or as a group for further clarification.