Norris defends plan to close end of street by his home at cost of £70,000

Senator David Norris has defended Dublin Corporation's plan to close one end of the street outside his home by building a granite wall, decorative iron railings and double gates at an estimated cost of £70,000.

Mr Norris also rejected accusations of elitism and exclusiveness and labelled critics of the scheme planned for North Great George's Street in the north inner city as "inverted snobs who said nothing at all when other streets, such as Church Street and parts of Ringsend, were closed to vehicular traffic".

At the core of Mr Norris's argument is what he claims are nightly incidents of car thieves racing through the street, chasing each other or being chased by gardai.

The street was originally bounded at the southern end by gates, according to the senator who explained that "in 1756 or whenever" it was the avenue to the local manor house, Mount Eccles.

The "fine 18th century gates" would be located at the Parnell Street end of North Great George's Street, suspended from pillars on granite plinths. The gates would normally be locked, except perhaps for ceremonial occasions.

"It is well known that I would prefer horses and carriages in the street before anything else," the senator told The Irish Times yesterday, "but it is not true to say that the street will be closed to traffic".

The scheme, as envisaged by Dublin Corporation after consultation with architect Mr John J. O'Connell, who also has an address in the street, would allow 24-hour access for pedestrians.

The street will continue to be open to vehicular traffic from the northern end, facing on to Belvedere College and arguments that fire brigades or the ambulance services would not be able to access it have been dismissed as a "red herring" by Mr Norris.

"We have empirical data to prove that the fire brigade can get in. There was a fire here recently and four fire brigades came within five minutes. I spoke to them and they said they came from Phibsboro, so the natural route is through the north of the street.

"The same for the ambulances which come from the Mater Hospital," he added.

On allegations by Fianna Fail councillor Mr Royston Brady that the gates were designed to create an elite enclave, Mr Norris said the street was particularly fine with much iron railings and granite and the new railings and gates would match this. But he maintained that people would always be welcome: "Their tax dollars have gone towards conservation - of course they should see it", he said.

A spokeswoman for Dublin Corporation said planning permission for the erection of the gates was being applied for by the corporation. As developer the corporation will probably be bearing the cost of the gates but Senator Norris said he felt that this might be recouped from central funds or the millennium committee.