Sir, – I note the recent correspondence about the draft proposed traffic plan. We seem to have a history of taking a very narrow view – previously it was about the car, about easy access. Now it seems the car is the number one enemy, but the private car has a use, albeit a reduced one. For many with a disability, or mothers with small children, the car is their mobility, their security and their accessibility.This group should not be excluded.
If car parking charges were more expensive at the start of the day and during lunchtime, it could encourage people who can to leave the car at home – unless it was necessary to transport a large purchase. Equally, flexible and cheap delivery services from the larger stores might encourage people to come into the centre. The big advantage of non-internet shopping has to be that you can browse or try an item on.
While the prospect of larger pedestrian areas is attractive, it takes more to make a viable and lively area. It needs mixed use – mixed age groups and easy access for all. If public transport is universally accessible, reliable and cheap, it will be used. However, the destination also needs work – turning the city centre back into a living, desirable hub.
A combination of poor access, security issues, high rents and vacant units have meant that the city centre is less than desirable as a place to live and shop.
There have been huge improvements in some areas but much more needs to be done. Currently there are a number of “destination” restaurant and bars being developed – easy and secure access to these is vital to encourage more mixed use in areas such as Henry Street, which is predominantly retail.
The plethora of signage which obscures the streets does not help wayfinding and signs are often contradictory .
Tourism is another vital factor in the revitalisation. We have so many wonderful places of interest which also need to be developed as accessible destinations . A transport plan is an opportunity to include all of the interested groups to encourage the use and development of the city centre as a living/working/ retail “An Lár”. – Yours, etc,
CAITRIONA SHAFFREY,
Dartmouth Square,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.